FALL 2020 MON. 10-26-2020 Prof. Umaru Balde IS 201: BECOMING A GLOBAL CITIZEN Academic Paper #1 Due 10-26-2020 Questions, concerns, comments... People, Places & Cultures Humans and the culture of destruction - People & Climate We Know Not What We Do Culture Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a group of people, encompassing language, religion, food, social habits, art and music. The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition goes a step further, defining culture as shared patterns of behaviors and interactions, cognitive constructs and understanding that are learned by socialization. Thus, it can be seen as the growth of a group identity fostered by a unique social patterns. Elements of Culture Human beings are members of social groups with shared and unique sets of behaviors and attitudes. Religion Food Clothing Homes Other elements of culture ● ● ● ● Language Education Security/Protection Political/Social organization Societies and Ethnic Groups ● Society ○ is a group that shares a geographic region, a sense of identity, and a culture. ● Ethnic group ○ is a group of people who share language, customs and heritage. ○ Ethnic groups have an identity as a separate group of people within the region they live. How cultures change? Innovation – Taking existing technology and resources and creating something new to meet a need. Cultural change Diffusion – ● The spread of ideas, inventions, and behaviors from one society to another. Diffusion is also defined as the movement of goods, people or ideas. ● Cultural diffusion has spread culture traits to most parts of the world. What about America’s diffusion abroad? Diffusion and the media ● In the age of electronic technology, diffusion can happen very quickly. ● What happens in one part of the globe can be heard in every corner of the globe in a matter of minutes. Cultural origins or Cultural hearths ● is a site of innovation from which basic ideas, materials, and technology diffuse to many cultures. ● River civilizations such as those along the Indus in India, Huang He in China, Nile in Egypt, and Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia are the best known cultural hearths. Cultural change - acculturation Acculturation – Cultural change that occurs when individuals in a society accept or adopt an innovation. Examples of Acculturation ● Wearing jeans instead of traditional garments. ● Having to drink only bottled water in certain parts of the world. ● Businessmen bowing in the Far East (Japan). ● A military upgrading its technology. Other aspects of culture ● Language can also divide people ○ (Ex: Canada, United States). ● Cameroon in Central Africa (french & English) Language families ● There are 3,000 – 6,500 languages spoken worldwide. There are many different versions of each language. ● Dialect – Version of a language that reflects changes in speech patterns related to class, region, or other cultural changes. Language Diffusion ● Language can be spread like any other element of culture. ● Language is spread most often through trade routes and migration. ● As people move, the language they carry with them sometimes takes hold in the region (Ex: English, Spanish, and French brought to the N and S America). Religion ● A belief in a supernatural power or powers that are regarded as the creators and maintainers of the universe. ● Can establish beliefs and values that define how people worship and behave. three types of Religions ● Monotheistic – belief in one god. ● Polytheistic – belief in many gods. ● Animistic or Traditional – belief in divine forces of nature. spread of Religion ● Religions spread through diffusion and converts. ● Converts – people who give up their former beliefs for a new religion. ● Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism actively seek converts. ● Judaism and Hinduism do not seek converts. The 5 major religions of the world are: 1. Judaism 2. Christianity 3. Islam 4. Hinduism 5. Buddhism. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all began in Southwest Asia, they are monotheistic, and share some similar beliefs, prophets, and teachers. http://app.discoveryeducation.com/search?ntt=islam&n=18343#selitemsperpage=20&intcurrentpage=1&no=20&n=18343% Jews and the Holy Land ● Torah establishes claim to Holy Land. ● Believe Holy Land was gift from God to Abraham. ● King David brought ark containing original Torah here. ● Site of King Solomon's temple Christianity ● Evolved 2,000 years ago from Judaism. ● Based on teaching of Jesus Christ. ● Teachings recorded in the Bible. ● Spread from Jerusalem. ● Largest following of all religions (2 billion) Christianity and the holy Land ● Christians – site of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. ● Home to original cross and stone of Christ’s tomb. ● Site of sacred Church of the Holy Sepulcher. ● Holds variety of Christian shrines. Islam ● Established around 613 A.D. ● Based on teachings of prophet Muhammad. ● Has close ties to the prophets and teachers of Judaism and Christianity. ● Holy book is the Qur’an. ● Two major sects are Sunni and Shiite. 2 nd largest following in the world. Islam and the holy Land ● Qur’an establishes claim that both Jews and Arabs are descendants of Abraham. ● Believe God’s gift of Holy Land to Abraham is meant for Arabs (first Muslims) too. ● Site of Muhammad’s ascension into heaven ● Caste System ○ levels of fixed social classes with specific rites and duties. ● Animals play an important role in religion and culture Hinduism ● Dates back 5,000 years. ● Concentrated in India. ● Polytheistic. ● Religious requirements of the caste system shape many aspects of Hindu’s lives and culture. ● http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=353 Buddhism ● Offshoot of Hinduism, developed 563 B.C. ● Founder – Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha). ● Rejects Hindu idea of caste. http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=166179 ● Promotes living the correct way in order to reach nirvana, an enlightened spiritual state. ● Missionaries spread teachings to SE Asia, China, Japan, and Korea. Culture Complex ● A related set of culture traits descriptive of one aspect of a society’s behavior. ● Nationalism is a culture complex. ● Example: Proud to be American. ● Cattle herding among African tribes. ● The Kayan Lahwi tribe are well known for wearing neck rings. Discussion !! Questions? For Next Class:
