Chapter 4 Cultures of the World

Culture is a "Total Way of Life."

Culture includes:
1. the work people do
2. their behaviors
3. their beliefs
4. and the way people do things...

- A particular group's individual skills, customs and ways of doing things are called CULTURAL TRAITS.

ELEMENTS OF CULTURE:
material things such as houses and other structures, television sets, food or clothing...sports, entertainment and literature are also elements of culture.

Other parts of culture may not be visible(things that you cannot physically see)...they include: spiritual beliefs, ideals, government, and ideas about what is right and what is wrong. Language is also a very important part of culture.

PEOPLE AND THEIR LAND:
Human-Environment Interaction - Geographers want to know how landforms, climate, vegetation, and resources affect culture.
Example: Japan is very mountainous...therefore it's difficult to farm. So, Japan relies heavily on food from the sea...they eat a lot of fish and seaweed.

Cultural Technology - tools and skills people use...stone tools and the ability to make them, computers and the Internet are also ways in which people learn to create and use technology.

Cultural Landscape - includes any changes to its environment.
Example - many people live on the sides of mountains...farmers cut terraces into the sides of the mountains in order to farm on flat areas.(see page 78)

The Development of Culture...early cultures developed through the 4 following stages...they are: the invention of tools, the discovery of fire, the growth of agriculture and the use of writing.

Agricultural Revolution: Farming provided a steady food supply. Therefore, birthrates rose, death rates dropped and as a result, the population increased...cities developed...people produced food, others developed special skills such as pottery, metal workers, tailors etc...People developed laws and governments...writing developed...creating Civilizations.