Exam 1 Flashcards
Cultural Geography
The study of the spatial variations among cultural groups and the spatial functioning of society. It is a learned collective behavior
Region
A grouping of like places or the functional union of places to form a spatial unit.
Formal Culture Region
A uniform area inhabited by people who have one or more cultural traits in common.
Functional Culture Region
An area that has been organized to function politically, socially, or economically.
Vernacular Regions
A region perceived to exist by its inhabitants, has widespread acceptance, and uses a special regional name.
Cultural Diffusion
The spatial spread of learned ideas, innovations, and attitudes.
Independent Innovation
the same innovation develops at the same time in different areas
Spatial Diffusion
The process by which a concept, practice, or substance spreads from its point of origin to new territories
Relocation Diffusion
individuals or groups move from one location to another location spreading the innovation
Expansion Diffusion
The spreading of an innovation or idea through a fixed population in such a way that the number of those adopting grows continuously larger, resulting in an expanded area of dissemination.
Contagious Expansion
The distance-controlled spreading of an idea, innovation, or some other item through a local population by contact from person to person.
Hierarchical Expansion
A form of diffusion in which an idea or innovation spreads by “trickling down” from larger to smaller adopting units.
Hierarchical Diffusion
Ideas leapfrog from one person to another or one urban center to another temporarily bypassing other persons or territory.
Stimulus Diffusion
A specific trait may be rejected, but the underlying idea is accepted.
Time-Distance Decay Function
Strongest acceptance where it originates (Neighborhood effect), and acceptance weakens as it diffuses farther away.
Absorbing Barriers
Halts diffusion completely
Permeable barriers
Allow parts of the innovation to diffuse.
Globalization
The binding together of all the lands and peoples of the world into an integrated system driven by capitalistic free markets, in which cultural diffusion is rapid, independent states are weakened, and cultural homogenization is encouaged.
Cultural Ecology
The study of the cause-and-effect interplay between cultures and the physical environment.
Cultural Integration
Cultures are systematically and spatially Intertwined. Cultures are complex wholes rather then a series of unrelated traits. Cultures form integrated systems in which parts fit together causally.
Environmental Determinism
Possibilism
Environmental Perception
Human Perceptions of Natural Hazards: Mechanistic and Organic Views
-Humans of Judeo-Christian tradition, tend to regard environmental modification as divinely approved, which is called the Mechanistic View.
-Other groups take care not to offend the forces of nature, which is called the Organic View.
Model Building in Cultural Integration
Social Sciences (Logical Positivism)
Humanistic Geography
Topophilia
Love of place
Structuralism
Popular Culture
Consists of large masses of people who conform to and prescribe to ever changing norms
What results in damage to a physical environment
a massive amount of people in recreational areas
Material Culture
Includes all objects or things made and used by members of a culture group.
Nonmaterial Culture
Folklore, defined as oral tradition. Stories, beliefs, customs, etc
Geophagy
The practice of eating earthy or soil-like substances such as clay, and chalk, in order to obtain essential nutrients such as sulfur and phosphorus from the soil
What is american made on a house?
Stilts, 2 doors, outside staircase
Why did wooden houses need to be spaced out?
Fire risk.
Is time distance decay less important in popular culture
yes
