Population, Culture, and Religion
Learning Targets
Why It Matters
As we enter into a more in-depth study of human geography, it is important
to think about who the people of the world are, how this population is distributed,
and the challenges that population growth can bring. Many times, these topics are
very closely related to physical geography! (Population distribution is tied to the
geography, climate, and resources of a region; population growth can adversely
affect the environment; and so on.)
Everyone has a culture, though sometimes we are so immersed in our own
culture, we do not realize how much it affects who we are and what we do.
Cultures are ever-changing, though, as certain customs and ideas fade away and
new ones emerge to take their places. Religion is an important component of
culture, and by understanding the basic beliefs of several major world religions, we
will be better able to find common ground among the people of the world.
I can . . .
1) Explain why population has grown so much in recent decades, and what
challenges large populations and population density can bring.
2) Define culture and describe the elements that make up culture.
3) Explain how cultures change over time, in particular through cultural
diffusion.
4) Explain what religion is, and what questions religions help people to answer.
5) Define monotheistic and polytheistic.
6) Identify the geographic origins, founding leaders, and major teachings of
Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
7) Compare and contrast these five major world religions.
What do you KNOW?
What do you WANT to
learn?
What did you LEARN?
7 Billion and Counting
Directions: Use the article you received in class to complete each section of the
notes below.
Questions
Notes
Write three questions
that somebody
could answer by
using ONLY your
notes.
What Ignited the Explosion? (Why has population grown so much?)
1.
1.
Crowding the Earth (Can the Earth’s resources support more and
more people?)
1.
2.
2.
2.
Upsetting the Ecological Balance (How does overpopulation affect
the environment?)
1.
2.
3.
3.
Population Growth: American Style (Why is the “American lifestyle” a
concern?)
1.
2.
What Can Be Done?
1.
2.
Summary Write a brief summary that tells the main ideas of the reading selection. Try to limit
your summary to 3–4 sentences.
Case Study:
Population Density in Japan—Life in a Crowded Country
Vocabulary:
Population Density: ___________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Directions: Use the reading from class to complete the organizer below with two examples of how population density
affects people’s day to day lives in Japan.
Geographic Setting: How does Japan’s geography affect its population distribution (where people live)? _______________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
How Population Density
Affects Transportation
How Population Density
Affects Housing
How Population Density
Affects Land Use
How Population Density
Affects Health
Vocabulary:
Zero population growth:
Case Study:
China—The World’s Most Populous Country
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Directions: Use the reading from class to complete the organizer below with examples of how China is meeting the
challenges of a large population. In the last column, share your thoughts about/response to China’s decisions.
Geographic Setting: Which region of China has the largest population density? Why? ___________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Challenge
Rapid
Population
Growth
Rising Energy
Demands
Increasing
Jobs and
Wealth
Proposed Solution
Benefits
Costs
Your Response
Culture
What Is Culture? Seven Elements of Culture
Social
Organization
(families,
friends, social
classes)
Customs and
Traditions
(rules of
behavior)
Economic
Systems
Culture:
The way of
life shared
by a group
of people
Forms of
Government
Religion
How do we learn our culture?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Language
Arts and
Literature
Ways Cultures Change:
1) New Technology ___________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
2) Environmental Changes ____________
____________________________________
____________________________________
3) Cultural Diffusion ___________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Create a collage of words and
pictures that represent your culture
(at least 10 examples).
Create a collage of words and pictures
that show examples of cultural diffusion
(at least 10 examples).
Major World Religions:
Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism
What is religion?
Why do all cultures have some form of religion? What questions does religion help humans to answer or try to understand?
Two types of religions:
Monotheistic
Definition
Examples
Polytheistic
Time Line of World Religions: When Did They Begin?
2000 B.C.
1500 B.C.
1000 B.C.
500 B.C.
A.D. 1
500
1000
1500
A.D. 2000
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________
Map Directions: Use the map provided in class (or your textbook, page 100) to shade in YOUR map to show the main regions where
each of the world religions we will study are practiced today. Use five different colors, and do not forget to include a KEY at the
bottom of the page.
World Religions Chart - Complete the chart below for the world’s five major religions.
Judaism (Jews)
Christianity (Christians)
Islam (Muslims)
Monotheistic
Monotheistic
Monotheistic
Where the
religion was
founded
Founding Leader
Middle East – Israel
Middle East – Israel
Middle East – Saudi Arabia
Abraham
Jesus Christ
Muhammad
Founding Beliefs
Ten Commandments: These are a
code for living a moral life. These
10 simple laws forbid stealing,
murder, dishonesty, etc.
Messiah: God will send a
messiah/savior, but this person has
not come yet.
Role of Jesus: Christians believe that
Jesus was the son of God and sacrificed
himself to save humankind from
punishment for their sins. They also
believe that after his death, Jesus was
resurrected and rose to Heaven.
Christian Conduct: Christians believe
they will go to Heaven after death if
they have faith in Christ and treat others
with love and respect.
Five Pillars of Faith:
1. Allah is the one true God
2. Pray 5 times daily, facing the city of
Mecca
3. Give charity to the poor
4. Fast during the month of Ramadan
5. Hajj—Make at least one pilgrimage
(religious trip) to Mecca
God or Gods
% of world
population that
follows religion
Sacred Text or
Holy Book
Sacred Symbol/
Special Object
of Faith (write
the name and
sketch it)
Sacred Site or
City
Special Day(s)
World Religions Chart - Complete the chart below for the world’s five major religions.
Buddhism (Buddhists)
Hinduism (Hindus)
No supreme being
Polytheistic—Many gods and goddesses, though they are all
forms of a single supreme being, Brahman
Where the
religion was
founded
Founding Leader
India
India
Siddhartha Gautama (“the Buddha”)
Unknown
Founding Beliefs
Four Noble Truths: These explain life’s meaning. These
truths explain that pain and suffering are caused by
human desires, like selfishness or the desire for wealth.
By giving up these desires, a person can find peace
and harmony.
Eightfold Path: A set of 8 guidelines a person should
follow in order to find peace (speak truthfully, respect
all living things, meditate, etc.)
Nirvana: By following the Eightfold Path, a person’s soul
can break out of the cycle of reincarnations and
achieve nirvana, a state of enlightenment and eternal
peace.
Reincarnation: Hindus believe that at death, a person’s soul
is reborn as another living thing, creating a cycle of life,
death, and rebirth. Eventually, a Hindu may “break out” of
the cycle of rebirth and be reunited with Brahman.
Karma: Karma refers to a person’s behavior in life, which
Hindus believe will determine that person’s form in the next
life. People who live a good life and earn good “karma” will
be reborn in a higher caste (social class).
God or Gods
% of world
population that
follows religion
Sacred Text or
Holy Book
Sacred Symbol/
Special Object
of Faith (write the
name and
sketch it)
Sacred Site or
City
Special Day(s)