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Geography of Languages • Language is important to culture because it is the main means of communication • Languages have spatial characteristics. Spoken in specific regions of the world • Languages can make a place distinctive (Brazil. Portuguese, Rest of South America-Spanish)

• 3, 000 to 6, 500 languages spoken today, language with the most speakers is Mandarin Chinese. • Speakers of any one language might use a particular dialect- a regional variety of languages • Example: British English and American English are both dialects of the same language. ! • Dialects contain distinctive ’all!! Y Hey words and pronunciation Ay yous guys!!!

• Geographers study where a language comes from and how it has spread. • English has become the most widespread language in the world. English comes from Anglo-Saxon. • English spread rapidly when the British began to colonize the new world. • English is the main language of globalization and the Internet • English has become a lingua franca- a language of trade and communication.

Geography of Religion • Religion is a key culture trait that binds many societies together • Religion can affect buildings, behavior, land, and create conflicts • There are three main types of religions – Ethnic – Animist – Universalizing

Ethnic Religions • One ethnic group, has not spread • Do not seek to convert people to their beliefs • Practice religion as part of ethnic heritage • Examples: – Hinduism (largest ethnic religion) in India – Confucianism and Taoism in China – Judaism in Israel

Animist Religions • Believe in the presence of the spirits and forces of nature • Polytheism, belief in many gods, is a big part of animist religions • Common in many traditional societies and likely practiced before modern types of religions became common • Examples- Ancient Greek gods and goddesses; Native Americans worshiping the sun.

Universalizing Religions • Seek followers around the world • More than ½ of the world believe in one of these religions • Christianity and Islam – Each based on monotheism (belief in one god) – Have missionaries- people who spread the religion

• Religion can have an affect on daily life – Islamic countries- people stop lives to pray several times a day, face toward Mecca the center of Islam • Religion has declined in some places of the world – Europe is seeing a decline in the number of people actively participating in religious activities

Major World Religions • • • Judaism Christianity Islam Hinduism Buddhism Confucianism

Judaism • Location: Jerusalem, Israel • Symbols: Star of David • Sacred Text: The Torah/ Hebrew Bible (first five books of the Christian Old Testament) • Founders/Important Figures: Abraham and Moses • Special days/Holidays: Passover, Yom Kippur, Hanukkah • Things worshiped or honored: God • How it spread: Not looking to convert

Christianity • Location: Jerusalem, All around the world (2 billion followers) • Symbols: Cross • Sacred Text: Bible • Founders: Jesus of Nazareth • Special days/Holidays: Birth of Jesus (Dec. 25 th) Resurrection of Jesus (Easter) • Things worshiped or honored: God, same God as Judaism but seen as the Holy Trinity • How it spread: Missionaries

Islam • • Location: Middle East; Mecca, Jerusalem Symbols: Crescent moon Sacred Text: Qu’ran Founders: Muhammad Special days/Holidays: Fast of Ramadan Things worshiped or honored: god (Allah) How it spread: Missionaries Interesting Facts: use prayer rugs

Hinduism Location: India: Ganges River Symbols: Multiple gods, Cow Sacred Text: The Vedas, Bhagavad Gita Founders: Mahavira Special days/Holidays: Festival of Holi, Festival of Lights • Things worshiped or honored: doesn’t revolve around a deity, the focus is on ethics (dharma) • How it spread: Not looking to convert • Interesting Facts: Reincarnation and Karma • • •

Buddhism Location: India and all around Asia Symbols: Buddha Sacred Text: Pali Canon Founders: Siddhartha Guatama Special days/Holidays: Buddha Day Things worshiped or honored: multiple gods and Buddha • How it spread: migrants • • •

Confucianism Location: China Symbols: Yin-Yang Sacred Text: The Analects Founders: Confucius Special days/Holidays: Teachers Day Things worshiped or honored: Teachers, Education, Learning • How it spread: Not looking to Convert • Interesting Facts: More of a philosophy or way of living than religion • • •

After Test: Label the Map!! United States Physical Map • Label the following: – Appalachian Mountains – Rocky Mountains – Mt. Mc. Kinley – Great Lakes- Each one! (5) – Mississippi River – Colorado River Gulf Of California Gulf of Mexico Great Basin Great Plains Coastal Plain Rio Grande