CULTURES AND
CULTURAL
HEARTHS
Popular Culture vs. Folk Culture
 Folk
Culture – traditionally practiced by a
small rural group living in relative isolation.
 Popular
Culture – found in a large society
that shares certain habits despite
differences in personal characteristics.
Pop Culture or Folk Culture
Taboo vs. Habit
 Taboo
– a restriction on behavior imposed
by social custom.
 Habit – repetitive act performed by an
individual.
 How do things become a tradition?
- Tradition = Customs
- Group of people repeat the same
acts
Cultural Landscapes
 describe
those places and
landscapes that have been
shaped or influenced by
humans.
Sauer
Culture Hearths: starting point of a
culture or trend.
Primary Culture Hearths of the World
Mesopotamia
Meso America
West Africa
Indus
Valley
Nile Valley/
East Africa
East Asia
What’s the name of the
hearth?
What’s the name of this
hearth?
What’s the name of the
hearth?
What’s the name of the
hearth?
What’s the name of the
hearth?
What’s the name of the
hearth?
Culture Worksheet
Use your notes to answer the following questions about cultures.
1. A cultural hearth is the starting point of a _________ or ________.
2. A cultural landscape describes those places and landscapes that
have been ___________ or ____________________ by humans.
3. Name the 6 cultural hearths:
a._______________________________________
b._______________________________________
c._______________________________________
d._______________________________________
e._______________________________________
f. _______________________________________
4. A taboo is a restriction on behavior imposed by ________________
custom.
5. A habit is a ________________________ act performed by an individual.
Folk Culture or Pop Culture?
Based on your notes, under each picture write Folk (for folk culture examples) or Pop (for
popular culture examples).
1.________
6._______
2._________
3. ________ 4.________
7._______ 8._______
9.________
5.______
10.________
On the map below, label the 6 cultural hearths.