Cultural diffusion

Process of cultural diffusion
  • the spread (diffusion) and mixing of people
  • cultural diffusion operates through:
    • trade, migration & warfare
  • cultural diffusion spreads or mixes:
    • culture, disease, race, religion, identity, technology, etc.

Cultural diffusion: movement, change & assimilation

  • cultural diffusion causes change
  • cultural diffusion occurs when people of one place interact with another
    • in fact, people in any given "place" are the result of prior episodes (events, processes) of cultural diffusion
  • the more movement in a region, the more that region

Geography & cultural diffusion

  • isolation
  • crossroads
  • rivers as both "a highway and a moat"
  • see geographic barriers: inhibitors to movement
  • see geographic catalysts: facilitators to movement
    • spreads more readily across similar climates and latitudes (east - west)
      • rather than across different climates (north - south)

Technology & cultural diffusion

  • boats
  • bridges
  • horses
  • mechanized transit, including
    • automobiles
    • railroads
    • steamboats
    • telegraph / telephone
  • rails (pre-steam)
  • radio / TV
  • roads
  • writing

Historical technological advance that enhanced cultural diffusion

Writing

Hammurabi's Code

Telegraph, Radio & TV

  • 1909: President Taft using telegraph to launch NYC automobile race
  • 1922: President Harding gave the first presidential address via radio
    • Harding's dedication to a Baltimore memorial to Francis Scott Key was broadcast via radio

Historical technological advance that enhanced cultural diffusion

Writing =

Hammurabi's Code

Telegraph, Radio & TV

  • 1909: President Taft using telegraph to launch NYC automobile race
  • 1922: President Harding gave the first presidential address via radio
    • Harding's dedication to a Baltimore memorial to Francis Scott Key was broadcast via radio

Cultural diffusion as historical agent

  • mixing of cultures, technologies, language, relgion, etc.
  • Do the conquerors conquer the conquered or do the conquered conquer the conquerors?, examples:
    • Mongol conquerors of China became Chinese (Yuan Empire)
    • Turk invaders of Anatolia became Muslim
    • Norman invaders of England became English
    • Ptolemaic (Greek) rulers of Egypt