Human Geography

Human Geography is…

The study of living cultures.

Basic vocabulary words and elements of culture.

•cultural geography/anthropology – the study of living cultures

•archaeology – the study of past cultures

More vocabulary…

•cultural diffusion – borrowing from other cultures – food, clothing styles, etc.; spread of culture to another area

•acculturation – process by which a person from one culture adopts traits of another culture.

More vocabulary…

•race – a group of persons related by common descent or heredity.

•ethnic group - pertaining to or characteristic of a people, esp. a group (ethnic group) sharing a common and distinctive culture, religion, language, or the like.

More vocabulary…

•prejudice – unreasonable attitude or bias against a group or culture based on supposed characteristics.

•bias – personal, distorted judgment that influences objective perception: one-sided.

•stereotype – over-simplified, commonly held opinion of a person or group; often a composite of traits; generalization about an entire group.

More vocabulary…

•ethnocentric – (ethno=cultural group; centric=at the center) believing that one’s own culture is the best or better than others; negative if extreme; positive is establishes self-pride.

•xenophobia – (xeno=foreign; phobia=fear) a fear of foreigners or things foreign.

Human Geography is…

The study of humans on earth. It includes…

•NUMBER•GROWTH•MOVEMENT•INTERACTIONS

AND HOW THEY LIVE OR …

CULTURE:Creative

ExpressionLanguageEducationValues and BeliefsEconomicsReligionGovernment

CREATIVE EXPRESSIONArt that reflects life and culture

Products of art include:•Performing arts

•Visual arts•Literature

What are some examples of each?

LANGUAGEPurpose: communication, identity, unity

6,000+ in the worldSpreads through trade, migration, blending

Most commonly spoken: Chinese.

VALUES and BELIEFS

Things that are assigned value and influence the way people choose to conduct their lives:

Examples: education, material objects, social relations, technical skills…..

What else?

EDUCATION

Formal and Informal

How does education influence a culture?

RELIGION

Monotheistic – belief in one godPolytheistic – belief in many godsAnimistic – traditional, divine forces

Major Religions:SW Asia – Judaism, Christianity and Islam

South Asia – Buddhism and Hinduism

A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe

ECONOMICSEconomic System: the way people produce

and exchange goods.

Traditional: barterCommand: government controlledMarket: determined by consumer demandMixed: combination of command and

market

What kind do we have in the U.S.?

•Jobs/Wages•Technology (scientific knowledge and

tools)•Currency•Transportation•Communication

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GOVERNMENT“Exercise of Authority”

DemocracyMonarchy

DictatorshipCommunism

RepublicAristocracy

Anarchy

What type does the U.S. have?

Research the following:• Population (number of people)• Population Growth Rate (rate at which the pop. is growing)• Major Ethnic Groups (percentages)• GDP Per Capita (average amount a person earns per year)• Labor Force by Occupation (career fields)• Major Religions (percentages)• Type of Government (define)• Literacy Rate (total number who can read and write)• Languages (percentages)• Major Issues facing the country (at least two)

• Population - 313,232,044 /3rd

• Population Growth Rate - 0.963% /118th

• Major Ethnic Groups - (percentages) White 79%, Black 13%, Asian 4.5%, (Hispanic 15%)

• GDP Per Capita- $48,100 /11th• Labor Force by Occupation - farming, forestry, and fishing:

0.7% manufacturing, extraction, transportation, and crafts: 20.3%, managerial, professional, and technical: 37.3%, sales and office: 24.2%, other services: 17.6%

• Major Religions (percentages)- Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%, other Christian 1.6%, Jewish 1.7%

• Type of Government- Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition

• Literacy Rate- 99%• Languages- English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-

European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)

• Major Issues facing the country- illicit drugs

PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY LIVE…

•a comfortable life.•a difficult life.•a _______ life.

EXPLAIN WHY…………………..