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Cultural Regions

A cultural region is a geographic area defined by a common cultural characteristic. This could include language, economics, ethnicity, politics, or religion. Borders of a cultural region are sometimes unclear. Multiple cultural regions may even overlap.

People generally identify with the cultural region where they were born. Individuals from different parts of the world might also bond over cultural similarities. In contrast, cultural differences can create conflict between people living in the same area.

Cultural Regions Based on Language

Cultural Regions Based on Language Interactivity

A shared language allows people to communicate, which helps unite them culturally. Conversely, speaking different languages may divide people. In this interactivity, you will learn more about cultural regions based on language. Click the player to begin.

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Cultural Regions Based on Economics

Economic factors unite some cultural regions. For example, the European Union (EU) is an economic region. Twenty-eight European countries comprise the EU. Member nations have diverse backgrounds and speak varying languages. Yet, they connect through trade and business. The EU even has an official currency, the Euro.

The local economy defines other cultural regions. An example includes North America’s Wheat Belt. The Wheat Belt is a part of the Great Plains, located in central North America. The production of agricultural products like wheat and grains support this region.

Cultural Regions Based on Ethnicity

Cultural Regions Based on Ethnicity Interactivity

Ethnicity refers to the shared cultural characteristics of a group of people. It encompasses the ancestry, art, customs, food, history, language, nationality, and religion of a culture. In this interactivity, you will examine the impact of ethnic heritage on cultural regions. Click the player to begin.

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Cultural Regions Based on Politics

Maps that show national borders also clearly depict political influences of a region. Commonly, one nation will ally with another to form a larger political entity. For instance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is a military alliance. Several North American and European countries belong to NATO. Although this alliance began in response to Cold War tensions, it still exists.

The African Union (AU) is another example of a larger political region. All fifty-five nations on the African continent comprise the AU. Member nations encourage international cooperation, increase economic development, and promote security and stability.

Cultural Regions Based on Religion

Cultural Regions Based on Religion Interactivity

Throughout history, religious traditions have unified people through a shared cultural identity. However, these same religions have also created deep divisions and caused conflict. In this interactivity, you will explore the major world religions. You will also examine how religions can unify or divide regions. Click the player to begin.

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Architecture

Architectural structures reveal a lot about the culture that built them. For example, religious buildings reflect a region's cultural characteristics. Some religious buildings include churches, mosques, pagodas, synagogues, and temples.

Also, you can learn a lot about a culture by considering size, shape, and building materials used in dwellings, or houses. For example, what type of society might have rectangular-shaped dwellings with long-lasting materials? Likely, these homes are in a complex society with permanent settlements and agriculture. Hunter-gatherer and nomadic cultures tend to have curve-shaped dwellings. The materials are lighter and easily break down.

Changes in Perception

The way people view and understand a cultural region can change over time. As regional labels shift, people's perception of the area changes. This is exemplified by two regions found in the United States: the Rust Belt and the Sun Belt.

The Rust Belt

Map of the Rust Belt: Detailed Description

The term, Rust Belt, describes a deindustrialized region in Northeastern United States. The name Rust Belt developed when the region experienced a significant economic decline. Before this shift, people called this area the Factory Belt or the Steel Belt. These names came about because of a large amount of industrial manufacturing. In the late twentieth century, manufacturing jobs started to disappear. This increased unemployment, crime, and debt in the region.

The Sun Belt

Map of the Sun Belt: Detailed Description

The Sun Belt is a term used to describe the Southeast and Southwest United States. The region experienced significant economic and population growth in the 1960s and 1970s. New farming technologies helped increase agriculture, and air conditioning made the heat manageable. This allowed industries like aerospace, defense, and oil to develop in the region. People from inside and outside the U.S. migrated to the Sun Belt in search of economic opportunities. Similarly, a large part of the retirement population moved to the Sun Belt.

 

Cultural Regions Review

Cultural Regions Review Interactivity

Now that you have learned about the characteristics of a cultural region, review your knowledge in this interactivity. Click the player to get started.