Culture is largely shaped by geography, by the topographical features of the landscape, the climate, and the natural resources. Geography shapes how cultures interact with each other, what they need for food, shelter, and clothing, and how they choose to express themselves. So, how does geography affect culture? In this article, we will discuss in brief.
Our world is full of unique cultures. Geography has played a big role in how different regions of the world develop their culture. It is important to note that it isn’t just geography that affects culture but also other factors such as religion, personality, languages, and society.
How Does Geography Affect Culture?
Geography is one of the reasons why different cultures are different. For example, global differences are often attributed to geography.
Cultures can be affected by geography to a certain extent. Geography has a huge impact on the day to day life of every individual, no matter which culture they belong to or where they live.
Geographic regions also have an impact on the types of products that are being made, what kinds of jobs people have available, and how people use their money.
What Is The Impact Of Geography On Culture?
Geography is one of the key factors that contribute to the culture. For example, location has an impact on how people behave, what they eat, and how they dress.
People in Japan are obsessed with cleanliness compared to people in China. This is due to the difference in culture and religion between these two countries.
China has set up a variety of different provinces separated by climate and geography because different lifestyles thrive in different areas. Diversity can really help spread ideas and traditions, such as with their many languages and customs.
Likewise, people in Europe have a different sense of time than Americans or Africans because of their different geography.
The geographical location has led to some major changes in the way people have lived their lives – for example, Africa was home to many diverse cultures before colonization, but after colonization, it became a single country with one main language.
Why Geography Is The Key To Understanding Culture
The geography of a country and the similarities and differences of its people and customs can help you to understand its culture.
Geography is important in understanding the culture of a country. There are many cultures that might be different from your own, but understanding geography can help you to understand these differences.
Geography provides context for the customs, traditions, and values of a certain place.
For example, if you want to know how people in another country view marriage, just look at their marriage traditions and see if they vary from your own.
What Are The Different Types Of Cultural Differences?
In general, cultural differences can be defined as the ways in which a society’s norms and values differ from those of other societies. They can also be described as the different sets of shared beliefs, practices, symbols, and artefacts that constitute a culture.
There are different types of cultural differences depending on what is being discussed. These include ecological, economic, ethnic and religious cultural differences.
The Main Factors Which Influence Culture?
Now, We will discuss the main factors which influence culture and how these influences have changed over time. It is important to note that some factors have influenced society while others have influenced culture.
Personality
Personality is a personal characteristic that can be seen as an individual’s distinctive ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Personality also influences culture.
An example of a culture influenced by personality would be the United States. The United States has a unique personality shaped by its people and their unique personalities.
The greater impact of personality on culture can be illustrated by the development of different types of cultures.
For instance, the American culture has focused on individualism and rational thinking while China’s cultures prefer tradition, social harmony and collectivism.
Cultural Preferences
Culture is a set of shared behaviours and ideas that are learned and transmitted through social interactions.
People from different cultures have different preferences, such as what to eat, what type of food to cook, what type of clothes to wear. These preferences are influenced by the environment in which they live, such as family upbringing and society.
This is because people prefer certain things that they think their parents or friends will approve of them doing or wearing. This is called cultural preference and it can be seen as influencing culture.
A study demonstrates that Americans are more likely to prefer individualism than Europeans. However, Europeans show more interest in building community than Americans do.
Languages
A language is an important tool that humans use for communicating in a society. It is also an important part of culture and identity.
Language is a way to express an idea, a concept or a feeling. Languages can also create cultural boundaries and influences on what is considered appropriate or not.
Education Influence
The history of education has shown that it has a deep influence on culture.
It was influenced by various factors such as the rise of religion, the expansion of trade, and the spread of literacy. Education is an influential thing for people to follow.
The study supports the theory that human beings are social animals who need to be around people with similar cultures to survive.
Children are often raised in areas where there are many other people from different cultures. These children are taught to stay within their own culture, so it’s easy for them to identify with their own group rather than outsiders.
Religion Influence
Religion has a profound impact on culture.
Religion and culture have a long history of co-existing. It is not only about the religious beliefs and religious practices, but also about the social and economic impacts religion has on culture.
The rise of Christianity in the Western world created a foundation for the current secular society. In fact, it was Christian ideals that were the foundation for the Enlightenment as well as its subsequent revolutions.
Ethics And Values
Ethics and values are crucial to maintaining a healthy, effective, secure society. These values are embedded in culture and guide the actions of its members.
In many ways, culture is the reflection of the values and ethics that society upholds. From how we communicate to how we interact, these core beliefs shape our entire view of life.
Social Organization
There are many factors that influence the cultural values of a society, but the social organization is one of the most important.
For example, in Western culture, individuals are entitled to their own personal freedoms. This includes freedom of speech and religion. On the other hand, in East Asian culture, people are encouraged to act as a collective unit with strong family ties.
Conclusion: How Does Geography Affect Culture
It is no surprise that we have a lot of cultural differences. We all have our own unique way of life and we tend to interact differently with other cultures than we interact with our own culture.
The people from different countries bring in many new ideas and ways of life that we could never imagine or experience if it wasn’t for them. They are able to bring a new perspective to the culture that they are living in because they are not used to living in the same way as us, which leads to many changes in their society.