Human Geography Chapter 2 setting the stage Reviewing

Human Geography Chapter 2

setting the stage… • Reviewing the meaning, components, structure of culture • Processes of cultural change, diffusion, divergence • Dynamic processes

culture (social science definition) • Specialized behavioral patterns, understandings, adaptations, and social systems that summarize a group of people’s learned way of life

culture is…. . • Learned, not biological • Transmitted within a society to next generations by imitation, tradition, instruction

culture provides…. • a “general framework” • each individual learns & adheres to general rules • also to specific sub-groups: – age, sex, status, occupation, nationality

• Subcultures co-exist – Masculine / feminine – Rural / rural – Different ethnicities • Joined by common traditions, behaviors, loyalties, beliefs – Christmas – Church attendance on Sunday

culture is dynamic…. • • • External influences Cultural exchange Generational Technology Environmental – HIV/AIDS – Global warming

cultural variables. . micromacro • 1. Cultural traits – most elementary – Expression of culture, the smallest distinctions • • Behavior Object Beliefs Attitudes – these “building blocks” = a culture complex

culture complex • Individual cultural traits that are functionally interrelated – Masai of Kenya – cultural traits centered on cattle – American football – sports culture

culture region • Portion of the Earth’s surface occupied by populations sharing recognizable distinctive cultural characteristics – Political organizations/boundaries – Religions – Economy type

cultural realm • A set of cultural regions showing related cultural complexes and landscapes – Large region that has assumed fundamental uniformity in its cultural characteristics and showing significant differences from surrounding realms

culture realms

globalization • Interconnection of all parts of world • International scale of social, cultural, political, economic processes • Homogenization of cultures – Integrated economies – Standardization • Persistent regional descriptions – Adaptations to accommodate cultural preferences

interaction of people and environment…. . • Cultural ecology – study of the relationship between a culture group and the natural environment it occupies – Arid regions versus humid regions – Indian acorn culture

environmental determinism…? ? • The belief that the physical environment alone determines how humans are, their actions, their thoughts • Environment alone cannot account for cultural variations – Environment places certain limitations on human use of land – Not absolute due to technology, ideologies • Indian acorn culture versus Inca civilization

possibilism • Viewpoint that people, not environments are the dynamic forces that cause cultural development • Noting world’s population location: – Evidence of nature of limits of environment – Majority of people located in regions with certain characteristics • Mild climates, supply of fresh water, fertile soil, mineral resources

ecumene: Major areas of permanent inhabitation • Continental margins (coastal regions) – 2/3’s of total human population live within 300 miles of the ocean • Low-lying fertile delta lands (along rivers)

where DON’T humans live (without supporting technology) ? ? ? • • • Rocky coasts Cold regions Areas with infertile soils Mountains / deserts Tropical lowlands, swampy land, forested disease-infected river valleys

nonecumene: Major regions in the world • The “hollow continent” - South America • The “empty quarter” – Arabian Peninsula • The Amazon Basin • The Sahara Desert • Antarctica / Arctic / Siberia

population distribution • 90 % of all people live north of the Equator • 2/3 of this total are in the mid-latitudes of 20 – 60 degrees north (most temperate) • More than ½ the world population lives on only 5% of the earth’s land • 2/3 live on 10% • 9/10 on less than 20%

6. 2+ billion humans – The largest concentrations (Four major regions) • East Asia – Japan, China, Taiwan, South Korea – Largest – both in area and numbers – 25% of world population • South Asia – India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka – Second largest – 21% of world population

human concentrations • Europe – southern, western, eastern through the Ukraine – 13% of the world population • Northeastern United States and Southeastern Canada – Smallest concentration

human impact on the environment • Geography examines: – human reactions to environment – human impacts on environment • Cultural landscape – the earth’s surface as modified by human action – physical record of a culture • House types • Transportation networks • Size & distribution of settlement

human actions… deliberate & accidental • Vegetation – Altered, replaced, denuded • Animal species – Extinctions, marginalized • Fertile regions transformed – unproductive, polluted, degraded landscapes Moa – New Zealand 17 th century

fire - perhaps the first great tool • Fire control by hunter-gather groups – Grasslands = herds of grazing animals – Chase out game – Protect themselves at night from animals • Fire control today – – Some land reverting to forest – Also natural fires (lightening strikes) allowed to burn • Provides opportunity for more diversity

looking at roots of culture • Earlier humans were more impacted by physical environment

11, 000 years ago retreat of massive glaciers • Ice melted – (end of Paleolithic period) released moisture – Expanding • Vegetation & animals • Spreading populations

3 waves of development following retreat of glaciers • Basic hunter & gather groups • Development of agriculture/animal husbandry • Urbanization/industrialization

Paleolithic period – to 11, 000 BC • Hunter & gather groups • Retreating glaciers • Spreading & isolation = cultural divergence

hunter & gather groups • Small, scattered groups, pre-agricultural – Dependent on natural food sources – Primitive stone tools & weapons – Population estimate: 5 to 10 million – Spread to all continents except Antarctica

human migration

carrying capacity • Hunter & gather groups =large territories for small numbers • Relative isolation = cultural divergence • Some contact = trading, socializing, spouse selection • Groups of about 20 to 40 individuals

expansion & spread • New innovations – Encountering new environmental problems, materials, resources • Accelerated differentiation – Spreading increased cultural contrasts – New environments = cultural change • New tools, words, lifestyles

hunter & gather lifestyle • Hunting & foraging process – Not so demanding of time and energy • Estimates for Bushmen: survival requires a 2½ day workweek – Time available • Development of tools, art, language, religion, trade, permanent settlements, social stratifications

impacts on environment • Increasing populations – Depleted the large herds – Herds were migrating northward – Need for new food bases • Plant & animal domestication

Mesolithic period – 11, 000 to 5, 000 BC • Moving into the Agricultural Revolution – – Transition from food collecting to food production – Transition to sedentary lifestyle Plant & animal domestication Profound changes in tools, tasks, social complexities – Foods remained regional

agricultural origins…. • Spanning 1, 000 s of years – Nile floodplain – 18, 500 years ago – Americas (Mexico) – 5, 000 years ago • Helter-skelter fashion • Females considered primary players – Development of crop production – Innovators of technology – Perhaps evolved out of plant gathering & nurturing

domestication – 40° N to 40° S

migration of first farmers • 10, 000 years ago • Out of the Middle East • Spread rate = 5/8 ths mile per year

Neolithic period – 8, 000 to 5, 000 BC • Agricultural Revolution – into full swing • Cultural hearths/civilizations • Technological & social innovations – Plow – Irrigation – Draft animals

civilizations – economies based on agriculture • Surplus of food • Expanding populations • Innovations: – Spinning, weaving – Potter wheel, brick making, construction – Mining, smelting, casing metals

cultural hearths

development of civilizations… beginning around 5, 000 BC • • 1. Agriculture 2. Government 3. Religion 4. Specialization

beginnings of urbanization • Cultural hearths varied – Rural, urban, sea-faring, commerce based • Development of stratified societies – Artisans, warriors/armies, merchants, scholars, priests, administrators – Astronomy, mathematics, calendar

cultural change…. • In constant state of change – Can be dramatic, or less pronounced periods – Can be large or small • No phones to cell phones…. . less than one century • Subsistence agriculture to agro-business industry • 3 ways of change

1. innovation • Introduction of new ideas, practices, or objects; usually, an alteration of custom or culture that originates within the social group itself • For example an invention: – Material: bow & arrow, gun, steam engine – Non-material: Christianity, capitalism

how does innovation happen? ? ? • Characteristically pre-modern, traditional societies are not innovative – Equilibrium, so no motivation – Always resistance to change • Usually innovation occurs under pressure, stress – Today gas is $3. 00 + – Food pressures

2. diffusion • Process by which an idea/innovation is transmitted from one individual/group to another across space • 2 processes – Relocation - migration – Expansion - spread of information/innovation

diffusion processes • Relocation diffusion: – The innovation or idea is physically carried to new areas by migrating individuals or populations • Expansion diffusion: – Contagious – Hierarchical – Stimulus

3. acculturation • Adoption of cultural traits, “borrowing” – Religion, technology • Through force – War, subjugation • Absorption – Most extreme – Extinction of culture can occur