1. Chapter Three Population and Culture
Section One
The Study of Human Geography

2. Where People Live Over 6 billion people live on earth
Some areas have high concentrations of people
Some areas are sparsely populated

3. People and Environments
People have always adapted to their environments
Human activity has dramatically altered the earth’s physical landscape
Examples of this are: cutting trees, grazing their animals on wild grasses, plowing soils, and damming rivers

4. Population Density
Population Density- the average number of people in a square mile or in a square kilometer

5. Population Growth
The earth’s population has increased dramatically in recent centuries
The Effects of Growth:
Predictions of famine, disease, natural resource depletion
Increase in levels of technology and creativity

6. Comparing Growth Rates
Birthrate- the number of live births each year per 1,000 people
Death rate- the number of deaths each year per 1,000 people
Immigrants- people who move into a country
Emigrants- people who leave the country to live in other places
Zero Population Growth- When the combined birthrate and immigration rate equals the combined death rate and emigration rate

7. Patterns and Settlement
The densest population areas on earth are: East Asia, South Asia, Europe, eastern North America
Metropolitan Areas- central cities surrounded by suburbs
Urbanization- the growth of city populations
Rural- countryside
Most North Americans and Europeans live in metropolitan areas

8. The Nature of Culture Culture includes: Food Clothing Architecture
Arts
Technology
Religion
Language
Patterns of Behavior
Government Systems
Education Systems
Roles of Women and Men

9. Culture Hearths
Culture Hearth- a place where important ideas begin and from which they spread to surrounding cultures

10. Language Language is the cornerstone of culture
All cultures have language
People who speak the same language often share the same customs
Some societies have people who speak many different languages : India has over 700 languages
See pgs. 92&93 in text

11. Religion Religion answers basic questions about the meaning of life
Religion supports basic values that a group of people consider important
Monotheism- the worship of one God
Polytheism- the worship of many gods
Religion includes the use of prayers and rituals
See pgs. 94&95 in text

12. Cultural Landscapes
As people use natural resources, (technology), or alter the surface of the earth, they produce a unique cultural landscape

13. Social Organization
Every culture is organized into smaller social units
The most important unit of social organization is the family
Social class ranks people in order of status based on:
Money
Occupation
Education
Ancestry
Today in many cultures people can change their social class. This has not always been the case.

14. Women and Minorities
In many cultures, social mobility is restricted. This restriction is often imposed on:
Women
Ethnic Minorities
Religious Minorities
See pg. 96 of text for examples

15. Cultural Convergence
Cultural Convergence- when the skills, arts, ideas, habits, and institutions of one culture come in contact with those of another culture
Examples:
A hit music video in the U.S.A becomes a hit around the world when it is transmitted by cable and satellite.
Mexican food in the United States was introduced by Mexicans bringing it to America.

16. Cultural Diffusion
Cultural Diffusion- a process by which a cultural element is transmitted across some distance from one group to another.
Example:
Christianity being introduced to the Americas by Europeans over a period of many years
Native American crops such as potatoes, corn, and beans, over time, became major sources of food in Europe

17. Cultural Divergence
Cultural Divergence- the restriction of a culture from outside cultural influences
Some governments seek to control transportation and communication to limit cultural contact. They limit free access to newspapers, internet links, radio and television transmissions.