Geography of Religions and Ethnicities Flashcards
Diffusion
process by which feature spreads across space from one place to another over time
hearth
place from which innovation originates
Relocation diffusion
spread of an idea through physical movement of people from one place to another
Example of relocation diffusion
1) people speaking Spanish, English, French in South America because Europeans came hundreds of years ago bringing those languages
2) introduction of common currency BUT with different looking coins (Euro)
Expansion diffusion
spread of feature from one place to another in additive process
Caused by:
1) Hierarchical diffusion
2) contagious diffusion
3) stimulus diffusion
Hierarchical Diffusion
1) spread of an idea from persons/nodes of authority to other persons or places
2) innovation starts in city (place of power) and diffuses to rural areas on periphery
3) mainly caused by modern methods of communication, computers, texting, tweeting
Contagious diffusion
1) rapid, widespread diffusion of characteristic throughout population (like a disease)
2) MISSIONARIES
3) spreads without regard for hierarchy or permanent relocation of people
4) ex= memes on internet
Stimulus Diffusion
1) Spread of underlying principle EVEN THOUGH characteristic itself fails to diffuse
2) ex = innovative features of iPhone/iPad used by competitors
4 largest religions
1) Christianity
2) Islam
3) Hinduism
4) Buddhism
Ethnic vs universalizing religions
1) Ethnic = appeal primarily to one ethnic or cultural group
2) universalizing = attempt to be global, not just for one location
Global distribution of religions
1) Christianity = dominant in western hemisphere + Europe + subsaharan Africa
2) Islam = North Africa, Southwest + Central Asia
Regional Diversity of religions
1) 90% Latin Americans + 70% of Europeans/North Americans Christian
2) 90% of people in Central Asia + Southwest Asia + North Africa Muslim
3) India = 80% Hindu
4) Pakistan/Bangladesh = 90% Muslim
diffusion of Buddhishm
1) Spread because of Ashoka
2) Merchants along trading routes introduced Buddhism to China + many receptive to its ideas
3) Spread to Korea and Japan BUT lost support in India
Diffusion of Islam
1) Muhammad’s successors spread it across Africa, Asia, Europe through military conquest
2) At height controlled Palestine, Persian Empire, India, Spain
Diffusion of Christianity
1) relocation diffusion = missionaries moved throughout Roman empire
2) Hierarchical = Spread of Christianity promoted by Roman Empire’s elite
3) Contagious = Spread quickly bc of missionaries, migration, conquest
Conflict between religions
1) Jews, Christians, Muslims stem same heritage –> Abraham + Jerusalem
2) Holy for Jews = major Judaism events took place there + David established Kingdom of Israel, with Jerusalem as capital
3) Romans + Christians took control, renamed it Palestine, expelled most of Jews, consider Jerusalem holy bc Jesus’ resurrection happened there
4) Muslims then took over + consider it holy because Muhammad ascended to heaven in Jerusalem
5) continual conflict between Romans + Muslims over Jerusalem + eventually Ottoman Empire (muslims) won BUT british took over after WWI + then withdrew after WWII
Arab-Israeli Wars
Numerous wars over conflict for control of Israel
1) 1948-49: Israel declared independence + was attacked the day after + lost West Bank, Old City, Gaza Strip
2) Suez War = Israel, France, UK attacked Egypt to get Suez reopened BUT Egypt still had control of Suez
3) Six-Day = Israel launched surprise attack + captured lots of territory including Golan Heights, Gaza Strip, Old City
4) Yom-Kippur = surprise attack on Israel, ended with no change