Transcript Cultural Change

Cultural
Change
Culture Regions
• Includes diff. countries that share common
traits like…?
– Language
– Economic systems
– Forms of govn’t.
– Social groups
– History
– Religion
• From the earliest
civilizations, people have
organized their common
beliefs into religions. There
are thousands of religions
practiced around the world.
• Which of the religions
on the pie chart do you know
the most about? Least?
• A recent study reports that
half of Americans change
their faith at least once. Why
do you think that might be?
Cultural Change
• New ideas, lifestyles, and inventions 
Δ w/in cultures (internal Δs)
• Δ also comes from external influences
– Trade, migration, war
This is called cultural diffusion
1) Agricultural Revolution
• Earliest humans were nomads= hunters and
gatherers (no fixed home)
• Then they settled in river valleys and plains
 began farming & had permanent home
• This shift then spread throughout the world’s
regions
2) Civilizations
• By 3500 B.C., the farming villages then
shifted into civilizations…
– Highly organized
– City-based
– Advanced farming, trade, govn’t, art & science
innovations
• But how did this way of life spread?...
Culture Hearths
• Early centers of civilization
• Ideas & practices spread out from these first
• Where were the most influential culture
hearths?
Culture Hearths
• What did those 5 places have in
common?
– Fertile land from river valleys/water sources
– Made canals/ditches to irrigate land
Allowed ppl to grow surplus crops…
3) Specialization
• Surplus food allowed fewer ppl to farm 
develop new jobs
– Metalworking & shipbuilding  more trade
• More trade led to more cities
• Now need complex govn’t
– Coordinate harvests, plan projects, manage army
• Able to create writing systems  share info.
Cultural Contacts
• Civilizations affect each other when
permanent migration occurs
– Why do ppl migrate?
• By CHOICE- for better education, jobs, more $
• By RELUCTANCE- harsh govn’t, wars, persecution,
famines
• By FORCE- slavery, exiled
– Practices & ideas then blend with one another
4) Industrial Revolution
• In 1700s, after centuries of cultural
diffusion, countries began to industrialize
– Used power-driven machines & factories 
economy boost
• Faster and cheaper production
• Less labor (cost)
– Ppl moved from farms to cities
5) Information Revolution
• At the end of 1900s: computers brought
a turning point
– Able to store huge amts. of info and share
it all over world instantly this links the
cultures even more closely & quickly
Explain how cultural diffusion takes place
each day at Clements High School.
What examples of exchange of culture have
you experienced so far this school year?
How can cultural diffusion be beneficial to
society?
How can cultural diffusion be detrimental?
Can culture be watered down or ultimately
lost? Explain thoroughly!!