Cultural GeographyCultural Geography

WG.3c, 10b-cWG.3c, 10b-c

Cultural CharacteristicsCultural CharacteristicsCultural characteristics are Cultural characteristics are

parts of a groups everyday life. parts of a groups everyday life. They are the ideas and themes They are the ideas and themes which the group will teach to all which the group will teach to all members. These same members. These same characteristics can also link or characteristics can also link or divide a region.divide a region.

Examples of cultural Examples of cultural characteristics would be characteristics would be language, religion, and language, religion, and ethnic heritageethnic heritage

Examples of cultural Examples of cultural characteristicscharacteristicsLanguageLanguage

Arabic unites the Arab worldArabic unites the Arab worldSpanish unites the Hispanic Spanish unites the Hispanic worldworld

Brazil is the only South Brazil is the only South American nation which American nation which does not speak Spanish. does not speak Spanish. It speaks Portuguese.It speaks Portuguese.

Canada is a bilingual Canada is a bilingual nation. French and nation. French and English is its official English is its official language.language.

Examples of cultural Examples of cultural characteristicscharacteristicsSwitzerland has multiple Switzerland has multiple languages but very little languages but very little conflict between the groupsconflict between the groups

English is now considered the English is now considered the world language and is used world language and is used for most business for most business transactions around the worldtransactions around the world

Examples of cultural Examples of cultural characteristicscharacteristics Ethnic HeritageEthnic Heritage

In Yugoslavia, many ethnic In Yugoslavia, many ethnic groups were made into one groups were made into one country (Serbs, Croats, country (Serbs, Croats, Bosnians, Albanians). Bosnians, Albanians).

When strong leadership When strong leadership died out, the different died out, the different groups fought a very groups fought a very bloody civil war and now bloody civil war and now they all have separate they all have separate countriescountries

Examples of cultural Examples of cultural characteristicscharacteristicsIn the countries of Rwanda and In the countries of Rwanda and Burundi in Africa, Two ethnic Burundi in Africa, Two ethnic groups are dominate, the groups are dominate, the Tutsis and the Hutus.Tutsis and the Hutus.

The Hutus are dominate in The Hutus are dominate in one and they persecute the one and they persecute the Tutsis, and the Tutsis are Tutsis, and the Tutsis are dominate in the otherdominate in the other

and they persecute the and they persecute the Hutus. It has led to Hutus. It has led to almost constant war almost constant war between the groups.between the groups.

Examples of cultural Examples of cultural characteristicscharacteristicsThe United States and The United States and Switzerland have peacefully Switzerland have peacefully merged multiple ethnic groups merged multiple ethnic groups in their countries.in their countries.

Korea and Japan have Korea and Japan have primarily one ethnic groupprimarily one ethnic group

On the island of Cyprus, On the island of Cyprus, the Greeks and the Turks the Greeks and the Turks try to gain controltry to gain control

Examples of cultural Examples of cultural characteristicscharacteristicsReligionReligion can be both a unifying can be both a unifying

force.force.There are five major religions in There are five major religions in

the world today--Hinduism, the world today--Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Christianity, and Islam.

They have millions of They have millions of followers all believing the followers all believing the same thing.same thing.

Examples of cultural Examples of cultural characteristicscharacteristicsReligionReligion can also be a dividing can also be a dividing

force around the world.force around the world.Hindus and Muslims fight in Hindus and Muslims fight in India (Hindu) and Pakistan India (Hindu) and Pakistan (Muslim)(Muslim)

There are conflicts There are conflicts between Catholics and between Catholics and Protestants (two forms of Protestants (two forms of Christianity) in Northern Christianity) in Northern IrelandIreland

Jews, Christians and Muslims all Jews, Christians and Muslims all claim Jerusalem as their claim Jerusalem as their religion’s holy site. They are religion’s holy site. They are constantly fighting over the landconstantly fighting over the land

Spatial divisionsSpatial divisionsSpatial divisionsSpatial divisions are how we are how we

divide the livable space found divide the livable space found on the earth by establishing on the earth by establishing social, economic, and political social, economic, and political control.control.

You can be a member of You can be a member of more than one spatial group.more than one spatial group.

Spatial divisions can also Spatial divisions can also cause conflicts or cause conflicts or cooperationcooperation

Spatial divisionsSpatial divisionsExamples of Spatial Examples of Spatial

DivisionsDivisions----CountriesCountriesEconomic alliancesEconomic alliances

European Union (EU)European Union (EU)Organization of Petroleum Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Examples of Spatial DivisionsExamples of Spatial Divisions--Economic Alliances cont.Economic Alliances cont.

North America Free North America Free Trade Agreement Trade Agreement (NAFTA)(NAFTA)

Association of Association of Southeast Asian NationsSoutheast Asian Nations

Spatial divisionsSpatial divisionsExamples of Spatial Examples of Spatial

DivisionsDivisionsPolitical alliancesPolitical alliances

North Atlantic Treaty North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)Organization (NATO)

Commonwealth of NationsCommonwealth of NationsOrganization of American Organization of American States (OAS)States (OAS)

Examples of Spatial DivisionsExamples of Spatial DivisionsPolitical alliances cont.Political alliances cont.

League of Arab StatesLeague of Arab StatesAfrican Union (AUAfrican Union (AU))

Spatial divisionsSpatial divisions Reasons for spatial divisionsReasons for spatial divisions

differences in culture, differences in culture, language, or religionlanguage, or religion

keeping of historical keeping of historical boundariesboundaries

imperial conquest and controlimperial conquest and controleconomic similarities and economic similarities and differencesdifferences

Reasons for spatial division Reasons for spatial division conflictsconflictsBoundary and territorial Boundary and territorial disputesdisputes--Syria/Israel, --Syria/Israel, Western Sahara/Morocco, Western Sahara/Morocco, China/Taiwan, India/Pakistan, China/Taiwan, India/Pakistan, Iraq/KuwaitIraq/Kuwait

Reasons for spatial division Reasons for spatial division conflictsconflicts

Cultural differences Cultural differences (language and religion)(language and religion)----Indonesia, Canada (Quebec), Indonesia, Canada (Quebec), Ireland, SudanIreland, Sudan

NationalismNationalism--(the belief that --(the belief that your nation is superior to all your nation is superior to all others)others)

Reasons for spatial division Reasons for spatial division conflictsconflictsEconomic differencesEconomic differences----fertile land, access to fresh fertile land, access to fresh water, access to the coast, water, access to the coast, fishing rights, natural fishing rights, natural resources, different resources, different economic philosophieseconomic philosophies

Reasons for spatial division Reasons for spatial division conflictsconflicts

Ethnic differencesEthnic differences--Balkans --Balkans (Europe), Cyprus (Europe), (Europe), Cyprus (Europe), Rwanda and Burundi (Africa), Rwanda and Burundi (Africa), Kashmir (India)Kashmir (India)

Examples of CooperationExamples of Cooperation

HumanitarianHumanitarian--Red Cross, --Red Cross, Red CrescentRed Crescent

Economic AlliancesEconomic Alliances----NAFTA, Law of the Sea, NAFTA, Law of the Sea, multinational corporations, multinational corporations, OPECOPEC

Examples of CooperationExamples of Cooperation

Cultural AlliancesCultural Alliances--French --French speaking world, speaking world, Commonwealth of NationsCommonwealth of Nations

Military AlliancesMilitary Alliances--NATO--NATOProblem-solving AlliancesProblem-solving Alliances----

United Nations (UN), Antarctica United Nations (UN), Antarctica TreatyTreaty

Examples of CooperationExamples of CooperationPrograms to promote Programs to promote

international understandinginternational understanding----Peace CorpsPeace Corps

Foreign AidForeign AidAlliances for environmental Alliances for environmental preservationpreservation