Transcript World Languages and Religions

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 (BrazilPortuguese, 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
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
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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.
25th) Resurrection of Jesus (Easter)
• Things worshiped or honored: God, same God
as Judaism but seen as the Holy Trinity
• How it spread: Missionaries
Islam
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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
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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
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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
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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
Gulf Of California
– Rocky Mountains
Gulf of Mexico
– Mt. McKinley
Great Basin
– Great Lakes- Each one! (5) Great Plains
– Mississippi River
Coastal Plain
– Colorado River
Rio Grande