GG 306 Cultural Geography Prof. James W.T.Moody
Lib. 316 Ext 2120
Email – jmoody@lssu.edu
Text: The Human Mosaic
And additional readings
Course Objectives:
1. To understand and apply the five themes – Cultural Region, Cultural Diffusion,
Cultural ecology, Cultural Interaction, and Cultural landscape.
2. To learn about the men and ideas that have contributed to the development of the
scientific study of Cultural Geography.
3. To develop an awareness of both folk culture and popular culture and the impact
these have had on the cultural landscape.
4. To learn the patterns of the distribution of religions and religious cultures in the
past 200 years.
5. To examine the impact of ethnicity and languages as dynamic factors in cultural
diffusion.
6. To examine and understand the impact of empires, cultural difffusion, and religious
diffusion upon the development of political geography.
7. To learn the history of the development of food crops and their diffusion
throughout the world.
8. To examine the impact of industrialization and urbanization on cultures around the
world.
9. To understand and be able to explain the impact of Globalization on the cultural
landscape on every continent.
Additional Readings:
1.
Each student will be expected to find Five articles related to cultural geography and
use the collateral reading report form attached to this syllabus to report their findings.
2.
Copies of several articles will be distributed to each student for analysis and
comment. You will have these articles after the first week of class.

We will open our review of Cultural Geography with definitions and discussions of important themes.
Chapter 1
1.
What factors contribute to the identification of a “Cultural Region”
2.
What are the means by which “Cultural Diffusion” is facilitated?
3.
What is “Cultural Ecology”? How is this concept used in the study of cultural
geography?
4.
How does examination of “Cultural Interaction” contribute to the study of cultural
geography?
5.
What is the so-called “Cultural Landscape” and what factors contribute to defining a
particular cultural landscape?
Chapter 2
1.
Define “Folk and Popular Cultures” and the factors that contribute to the
identification of each.
2.
How are cultural ideas and behaviors diffused?
3.
What is meant by “folk ecology” and “The ecology of Popular Culture”?
4.
Discuss the “cultural interaction” betweeen folk and popular cultures.
5.
What factors contribute to the definitions of folk and popular cultural landscapes?
Chapter 3
1.
The discussion of the “Geography of Religion” seems very timely considering the
present conflicts and struggles with Islamic religious and political ideas. What are the
major religious cultural and geographical regions?
2.
How were the major religions diffused across the geographical landscape?
3.
Discuas the impact of religious ideology upon ecological impacts of human cultures.
4.
Discuss the major religions and cultural interactions
5.
What are the characteristics of the cultural landscape for major religions?

Chapter 4 l. What is a “linguistic cultural region”
2 What is the present understanding of linguistic diffusion?
3.
Discuss the impact of imperialism, technology and globalization on linguistic diffusion
Chapter 5
1.
What is the definition of “Ethnic Homelands” and “Ethnic Ghettos”?
2.
Discuss cultural diffusion and its impact on ethnicity
3.
Define “an ethnic landscape” – where do we see examples in North America?
Chapter 6 l.
What factors contribute to the definition of “a political cultural region”?
2.
Discuss the diffusion of political ideas and ideology – what factors contributed to this
diffusion?
3.
Discuss the political geography issues and problems presently causing concern in the
Balkans and Southwest Asia ( Middle East)
Chapter 7
1 What factors contribute to the identification of a “Demographic Regions”?
2. What is a “settlement landscape”? How is it related to environment, religion, and
other cultural factors?
4.
What issues related to “migration” and immigration – legal or otherwise – are
related to demographic regions?
Chapter 8
1.
Discuss the types of agricultural practices and patterns and their impact on population
and ecology. Issues.
2.
Discuss the major theories or concepts explaining agricultural origins and diffusion
3.
Discuss the impact of globalization on agricultural practices throughout the world.

Chapter 9
1.
Discuss the types of “Industrial Regions”
2.
Discuss the factors related to the diffusion of industrialization
3.
Discuss the present concerns and problems related to industrial ecology
Chapter 10
1.
Discuss the patterns and processes of urbanization
2.
What are “Urban Hearth Areas”?
3.
How has urbanization evolved and developed?
4.
What is the future of urbanization?
Chapter 11
1. How is “an Urban Ethnic Region” inside a city identified? Give examples of
these in Sault Ste Marie Michigan and Sault Ste Marie Ontario 1900 to 1950?
2. Discuss the modern impact of cultural diffusion on urban life
4.
What is the use of the concepts of “Models of the City”? How do these help explain
the changing urbanization in North America?
Chapter 12
1.
Discuss the positive and negative views of “Globalization” on the futures of cultures
and ethnic identity
2.
Discuss