3.2 Cultural Landscapes
4 min read•june 18, 2024
Danna Esther Gelfand
Danna Esther Gelfand
Key Concepts
Culture
A is made up of structures within the physical landscape caused by human imprint/human activities. Ex: buildings, artwork, Protestant churches in the US South - Cathedrals in Southern/western Europe, mosques in Southwest Asia.
is the study of how the natural environment can influence a cultural group.
is the theory that a place can be occupied by multiple different groups each modifying the landscape and having its own imprint for future occupiers Ex: Bolivia’s cultural landscape includes imprints/ influences from early Inca civilization and Spanish colonial conquerors.
is the way humans adapt to the physical and cultural landscape they are living in.
A has significant meaning beyond its appearance due to cultural associations and interpretations. The Temple Mount in Jerusalem holds religious significance for Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, in addition to holding the remains of the ancient Jewish temple and a medieval Islamic mosque. The Temple Mount holds symbolic meaning and is more than just a part of an old city, which makes it a symbolic landscape.
Regions
are defined by certain cultural traits that people perceive them as that develop through books, media images, and historical and cultural differences between regions. (bible belt, Chinatown).
are areas inhabited by people who have one or more characteristics in common such as dialect, local cuisine, local activities, etc.(french speaking region of Canada).
are areas organized to function politically, socially, and economically as a single unit. Radio broadcasts local culture, and sports teams bring people together. (Metropolitan area of Chicago, Bank of America).
are places that reflect cultural identity in a specific cultural landscape. The names of certain toponyms can reflect past origins such as Santa Barbara (Santa-saint).
Gender
are being challenged by popular culture as patriarchy slowly decreases and feministic ideas develop.
The refers to differences in socioeconomic and political power and opportunity between men and women.
High maternal mortality (death rates of women that give birth) rates are present in LDCs (less developed countries) that are more impoverished. High (murder of female infants) occur in regions where families prefer male children to pass down family names and ideals.
are even present today in regions such as India (however much less frequent than in the past) where a husband's family murders the bride due to her father not paying marriage money (dowry) to the husband's family.
Women's suffrage (the ability to vote) was not given until the 20th century in most countries. However, in such regions, today disenfranchisement is still present among women. Men outnumber women in areas that are highly populated such as India and China (gender imbalance).
State and Ethnicity
unify a state and provide stability.
divide a state leading to , weakening, etc.
is the process where a state breaks down through Ethnic Conflict (balkanization).
A is a Spanish-speaking neighborhood.
is where the more powerful ethnic group forcibly removes the less powerful ethnic group to make a homogenous nation-state.
- Ex: WWII in which millions of Jews, Romas, and other ethnicities were forcibly moved to concentration camps and were later exterminated. Balkanization is the process by which a state breaks down due to conflicts among its ethnicities. Ex: Yugoslavia which was once multicultural with multiple ethnicities broke up into 6 republics.
for portioning land to occupants differ by group ethnicity in the US and Canada. Land survey methods for parceling out land to its occupied Folk customs are decreasing due to pop cultural customs.
Land Survey Systems List
- - divides land into a series of rectangular parcels used by the U.S. to parcel land west of the Appalachian mountains.
- **-**land is divided into narrow parcels stretching from rivers, roads, or canals. Spanish colonists adopted it and found a French charter group in Mississippi and St. Lawrence River valleys, Canadian Maritimes, parts of Quebec, Louisiana, and Texas land.
- - A rectangular land division scheme designed by Thomas Jefferson to disperse settlers evenly across farmlands of the U.S. interior.
- - relies on descriptions of land ownership and natural features such as streams or trees marked land boundaries. surveying east of the Appalachian Mountains.
US Folk Housing Styles (see below)
- Middle Atlantic
- Lower Chesapeake/Tidewater
- New England
US Popular Housing Styles (widely spread, constantly changing, lack regional distinctiveness) (see below)
- Mass-produced
- Modern Style post WW2 (1945)
- Neo Eclectic since the 1960s
🎥 Watch: AP HUG - Cultural Landscapes
Key Terms to Review (32)
Adaptive Strategy: An adaptive strategy refers to the various methods and practices that cultures develop in response to their environment to meet their needs for survival, sustenance, and economic development. This concept emphasizes how societies adjust their agricultural, economic, and social practices based on factors like climate, geography, and available resources, creating distinct cultural landscapes. As these strategies evolve, they play a crucial role in shaping human interactions with the environment and influencing the overall cultural identity of a community.
Balkanization: Balkanization refers to the process by which a region or state breaks down into smaller, often hostile units along ethnic, cultural, or religious lines. This fragmentation typically arises from historical tensions, competing national identities, and socio-political issues, leading to conflicts and instability within the affected areas.
Barrio: A barrio is a Spanish term that refers to a neighborhood, often associated with a community of people who share similar cultural backgrounds, particularly within urban areas in the United States. These neighborhoods frequently serve as centers for cultural identity and social networks among Hispanic or Latino populations, showcasing unique cultural landscapes through language, food, and traditions.
Centrifugal Forces: Centrifugal forces are factors that push people and groups away from one another, often leading to fragmentation within a society or state. These forces can create divisions based on cultural, political, or economic differences, which can significantly impact the stability and cohesion of a region.
Centripetal Forces: Centripetal forces are factors that unify and strengthen a state's or region's cohesion, promoting stability and a sense of community among its people. These forces can include shared culture, language, religion, and national identity that help bind a population together, contrasting with centrifugal forces that tend to divide or destabilize.
Cultural Ecology: Cultural ecology is the study of how human cultures adapt to and interact with their environment. This concept emphasizes the relationship between cultural practices and the natural world, showcasing how environmental factors influence social structures, agricultural practices, and settlement patterns. The interplay between culture and environment is crucial in understanding how societies evolve and how cultural landscapes are shaped over time.
Cultural Landscape: A cultural landscape is the visible imprint of human activity on the natural environment, showcasing the interplay between culture and nature. This concept illustrates how human practices, beliefs, and values shape the physical environment, reflecting aspects like architecture, agriculture, and land use.
Cultural Shatter-belt: A Cultural Shatter-belt refers to a region where diverse cultural groups, often with conflicting interests, coexist and interact, leading to significant cultural fragmentation and tension. This concept highlights the complexities and challenges of maintaining cultural identity in areas marked by geopolitical strife, shifting alliances, and historical grievances. These regions are often characterized by a mix of languages, religions, and traditions, which can lead to both rich cultural exchanges and intense conflicts.
Dowry Deaths: Dowry deaths refer to the murders or suicides of brides in India and other South Asian countries, typically related to disputes over the dowry, which is a payment made from the bride's family to the groom's family. This practice highlights deep-rooted cultural norms regarding marriage and gender roles, showcasing how economic pressures can lead to violence against women in societies where dowries are customary. The phenomenon raises questions about social attitudes, legal systems, and the status of women within cultural landscapes.
Ethnic Cleansing: Ethnic cleansing refers to the systematic removal or extermination of an ethnic group from a particular territory, often through violent means. This practice is usually carried out by a dominant ethnic group aiming to achieve political, territorial, or cultural homogeneity within a specific area. Ethnic cleansing can manifest in various forms, including forced displacement, mass killings, and widespread human rights violations, significantly affecting cultural landscapes and political processes.
Female Infanticide Rates: Female infanticide rates refer to the practice of intentionally killing newborn female infants, often due to a preference for male children in certain cultures. This tragic phenomenon is deeply rooted in societal norms, economic factors, and cultural values that favor sons over daughters, leading to skewed gender ratios in populations. The implications of female infanticide extend beyond individual families, affecting the broader demographic and social landscape by contributing to imbalanced sex ratios and long-term societal consequences.
Formal Regions: Formal regions are areas defined by official boundaries and characteristics that are consistent throughout the space. These regions often share specific traits such as language, culture, or physical geography, making them distinct from surrounding areas. The concept is crucial in understanding cultural landscapes as it helps to illustrate how human activities and societal structures can create identifiable spaces with shared features.
Functional Regions: Functional regions are areas defined by a central point or node and the connections or interactions that occur within it, often based on specific activities or functions. These regions illustrate how spatial organization and cultural landscapes are shaped by economic, political, and social factors that create interdependence among different areas. Understanding functional regions helps to analyze how human behavior and land use patterns are organized around key activities or services.
Gender Gap: The gender gap refers to the disparities between men and women in various aspects of life, including economic participation, educational attainment, health outcomes, and political representation. This term highlights the differences in opportunities and rights experienced by different genders, often reflecting underlying social, cultural, and economic inequalities. Understanding the gender gap is essential to addressing issues related to equity and development in society.
Land Survey Methods: Land survey methods refer to the techniques used to measure and map the physical features of a piece of land, which can include its boundaries, contours, and dimensions. These methods are essential for establishing property lines, understanding topography, and planning land use. By employing various techniques like triangulation, GPS, and photogrammetry, land surveyors can provide accurate data that informs cultural landscapes, shaping how humans interact with and modify their environment.
Long-lot Survey System: The Long-lot Survey System is a land division method that emerged in French colonial territories, where land was divided into narrow strips that extended from rivers or roads, maximizing access to water resources and facilitating transportation. This system not only reflects the geographic context of settlement but also showcases cultural practices and social organization of the communities that used it, demonstrating how humans shape their landscapes based on environmental features.
Lower Chesapeake/Tidewater Housing Style: The Lower Chesapeake/Tidewater Housing Style is a distinctive architectural style that emerged in the coastal regions of Virginia and Maryland during the colonial period. Characterized by its use of local materials, raised foundations, and large porches, this style reflects the environmental conditions and cultural influences of the Tidewater region, merging practicality with regional aesthetics.
Mass-produced Housing Style: Mass-produced housing style refers to residential structures that are built using standardized designs and construction methods, allowing for rapid and cost-effective development. This approach emerged in the mid-20th century as a response to the housing demands in urban areas, significantly influencing cultural landscapes by shaping community layouts and architectural aesthetics across various regions.
Maternal Mortality Rates: Maternal mortality rates refer to the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births due to complications from pregnancy or childbirth. This statistic serves as a crucial indicator of healthcare quality and access for women, highlighting disparities that often exist based on geographic, economic, and social factors. High maternal mortality rates are typically found in regions with inadequate healthcare systems, while lower rates indicate better access to medical care and improved women's health services.
Metes and Bounds System: The Metes and Bounds System is a method of land surveying that uses physical features, distances, and directions to define property boundaries. This system is particularly significant in areas where land was surveyed before the adoption of rectangular survey methods, allowing for more irregular and natural property shapes that reflect the local landscape.
Middle Atlantic Housing Style: Middle Atlantic Housing Style refers to a distinctive architectural style that emerged in the Middle Atlantic region of the United States, characterized by its practicality and adaptation to local conditions. This style showcases a blend of European influences, particularly from German, Dutch, and English settlers, leading to unique features such as brick or stone facades, gabled roofs, and symmetrical designs. The housing style reflects the cultural diversity and historical development of the area, serving as a key element in understanding regional cultural landscapes.
Modern Style Post WW2 (1945) Housing Style: The Modern Style Post WW2 Housing Style refers to a distinctive architectural movement that emerged in the United States and other countries following World War II, characterized by simplicity, functionality, and integration with nature. This style embraced open floor plans, large windows, and minimal ornamentation, reflecting a shift towards modernist ideals and a response to the housing demand created by returning soldiers and growing suburbanization.
Neo Eclectic since the 1960s Housing Style: Neo Eclectic housing style refers to a contemporary architectural movement that emerged in the United States during the late 20th century, characterized by a blend of various historical styles and modern elements. This style gained popularity as it reflects changing cultural values, emphasizing individuality and diverse design preferences in suburban developments. It represents a significant shift in residential architecture, moving away from strict historical adherence towards a more inclusive and versatile approach.
New England Housing Style: New England Housing Style refers to a distinctive architectural tradition that emerged in the northeastern United States, characterized by simple, functional designs, steep roofs, and the use of local materials. This style reflects the cultural heritage and environmental conditions of the region, influencing not only aesthetics but also the way communities are formed and lived in.
Perceptual/Vernacular Regions: Perceptual or vernacular regions are areas defined by people's perceptions, feelings, and attitudes rather than formal boundaries or official designations. These regions are shaped by cultural identity and can vary greatly from person to person, reflecting individual experiences and social narratives. They are significant in understanding how communities and cultures view their surroundings and can influence social interactions, political dynamics, and economic behaviors.
Rectangular Survey System/Public Land Survey System: The Rectangular Survey System, also known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), is a method for subdividing and describing land in the United States, established in the late 18th century. This system divides land into a grid of rectangular parcels using a series of principal meridians and base lines, enabling efficient land distribution, management, and settlement. It has played a crucial role in shaping the cultural landscape of the U.S. by influencing land use patterns and urban development.
Sequent Occupancy: Sequent occupancy refers to the process by which successive groups of people settle in a particular area, leading to layers of cultural influence and change over time. This concept illustrates how each group contributes to the cultural landscape, shaping it through their practices, beliefs, and adaptations to the environment. By examining these layers, one can understand the historical context and evolution of a place's identity.
Symbolic Landscape: A symbolic landscape refers to a geographical area that has significant meaning or representation beyond its physical features, often reflecting cultural beliefs, values, and historical narratives. These landscapes serve as symbols of identity and collective memory, representing how communities perceive their surroundings and the messages they wish to convey about themselves through architecture, monuments, and natural features.
Toponyms: Toponyms are the names given to specific places or geographic features, reflecting cultural, historical, and linguistic contexts. They serve as critical identifiers of locations, offering insights into the cultural landscapes they belong to and the regions they represent. By studying toponyms, one can understand how geography and culture interact, providing a window into human experiences and societal values.
Township and Range System: The Township and Range System is a method of land surveying used in the United States, established by the Land Ordinance of 1785. This system divides land into a grid of townships, each typically six miles square, and further subdivides these into sections, which are one square mile each. It reflects the organization and planning of rural landscapes and has significantly influenced land use and settlement patterns across the country.
Traditional Gender Roles: Traditional gender roles refer to the social and cultural expectations that dictate how individuals should behave based on their gender. These roles often prescribe specific responsibilities, behaviors, and attributes to men and women, influencing various aspects of life including family dynamics, work, and community involvement.
Women's Suffrage: Women's suffrage is the movement advocating for the right of women to vote in elections and participate equally in the democratic process. This movement has been a significant cultural force that has reshaped societies, influencing political landscapes and empowering women across the globe. It reflects broader themes of social justice, gender equality, and the transformation of cultural norms surrounding women's roles in society.