DO NOT EDIT--Changes must be made through “File info” CorrectionKey=TX-A

Cultural SECTION 3 Universals TEKS 15E, 16A, 16B, 16C, 18A, 18B, 18C, 18D, 19A, 20A, 20B, 20C If YOU lived there... What You Will Learn… You’re touring What the World Eats, a photography exhibit that Main Ideas shows families from 25 countries displaying the food they eat 1. The features common to all in a week. The food varies from image to image. Some foods— cultures are called cultural universals. sheep meat soup, mutton dumpling—seem unusual. Still, each 2. All societies have social insti- photo shows that families all over the world spend time together tutions that help their groups survive. over food. 3. Every culture expresses itself creatively in a variety of ways. How can the world’s people be so similar 4. All societies use technology to help shape and control the and so ­different? environment.

The Big Idea Geographers study cultural Building Background You have learned about how culture universals, features common traits set cultures apart from one another. In this section, you will to all societies, to understand learn about features that people everywhere hold in common, similarities among the world’s people. including social institutions, cultural expressions, and technology.

Key Terms What Do All Cultures Have in Common? cultural universal, p. 91 You may be wondering how cultures can be so different when social institution, p. 92 heritage, p. 93 all people have the same basic needs. All people need food, universal theme, p. 94 clothing, and shelter to survive. Geographers and other social technology, p. 94 scientists believe that some needs are so basic that societies science, p. 94 everywhere have developed certain features to meet them. These features, common to all cultures, are called cultural ­universals . In this section, you will learn about three important ­cultural universals: social institutions, creative expressions, and Use the graphic organizer online technology.­ to compare features shared by all cultures. Reading Check Finding Main Ideas What can geographers learn from cultural universals?

THE WORLD’S PEOPLE 91 DO NOT EDIT--Changes must be made through “File info” CorrectionKey=TX-A

Basic Social Institutions For instance, one goal of U.S. public schools is to develop informed citizens Societies, like people, have basic needs that who contribute to the good of their must be met for a group to survive. Social communities. institutions are organized patterns of belief and behavior that focus on meeting these Religion needs. They exist in all societies. The world’s religions are incredibly diverse. However, their specific characteristics Still, in all societies, religion helps explain vary from culture to culture. The most the meanings of life and death and the basic social institutions are family, educa- difference between good and bad behavior. tion, religion, government, and economy. Over time, religion is passed down and supported by traditional practices, Family literature, sacred texts and stories, and Family is the most basic social institution. sacred places. All of this makes religion a In all societies, its purpose is the same. The powerful force. It is often the foundation family ensures that children are cared for of a culture’s philosophical­ beliefs and until old enough to fend for themselves. attitudes. Moreover, in all world regions, Families provide emotional and physical it has inspired and sustained itself through ACADEMIC support. They also teach the accepted norms, VOCABULARY great works of devotion, including art and behaviors, and values of a culture. monumental monumental architecture. impressively large, sturdy, Education Government and enduring Societies rely on education to pass on To keep order and resolve conflicts, people knowledge to young people. For example, need a government. A government is a sys- schools across the world teach reading, tem of leaders and laws that help people writing, math, and technical skills live safely together in their community or that prepare students to take on adult country. In Chapter 5 and throughout this roles. Schools also teach the norms and book, you will learn about world govern- values that sustain, or support,­ a society. ments and how they shape people’s lives. Education In the United States (left) and in Peru (below), schools teach knowledge, skills, and cultural norms to prepare students for adult roles.

Analyzing Visuals What similarities and ­differences do you detect between the two classroom­ environments?

92 Chapter 4 DO NOT EDIT--Changes must be made through “File info” CorrectionKey=TX-A

Economy Creative Forces To support its people, a society must have Throughout this book, you will explore cre- an economy, or a system of using resources ative expressions from all world regions. As to meet needs. People must be able to make, you discover them, note how they are influ- buy, sell, and trade goods and services to enced by the availability of natural materials get what they need and want. In Chapter 5, and resources. Look, too, for how ­creative you will learn about and compare the expressions reflect a specific heritage, or features of various economic systems. the wealth of cultural elements that has been passed down over generations. Reading Check Summarizing What are the Creative expressions also express indi- main social institutions? vidual choices. People use artistic forms to express individual, as well as cultural, Creative Expressions ideas about what is pleasing, proper, and beautiful. They also use them to address All people are creative. Everyone has the contemporary issues such as politics, war, ability to imagine, think, and create. Not and social inequality. This is because the surprisingly, all societies express themselves arts can inspire us. Creative forms com- creatively, too. The main types of creative municate ideas and emotions that stir expression are: people to action. • Performing Arts—art forms that com- bine sound and movement for an audi- ence such as music, theater, and dance. • Visual Arts—creative expressions that have both a visual and material form, such as painting, jewelry, sculpture, tex- tiles, and architecture. • Literary Arts—art forms rooted in words and language such as literature, folktales, and stories. Monumental Architecture Religion inspires creative expressions, including monumental architecture such as France’s Notre Dame Cathedral (below) and Schwedagon Pagoda (right), a Buddhist temple in Myanmar.

Analyzing Visuals How do examples of monumental ­architecture express the power of religion?

THE WORLD’S PEOPLE 93 DO NOT EDIT--Changes must be made through “File info” CorrectionKey=TX-A

Universal Themes Science and Technology Some creative expressions communicate All people use technology to shape and con- universal themes. A universal theme is trol their environments, and they use sci- a message about life or human nature that ence to try and understand it. ­Technology is meaningful across time and in all places. refers to the use of knowledge, tools, and Because they express basic human truths, skills to solve problems. Science is a way of universal themes transcend, or move understanding the world through observa- beyond, the boundaries of a particular tion and the testing of ideas. society. They speak to people everywhere. Masterpieces of art have qualities that Factors Shaping Technology Use are meaningful and timeless. Examples Historically, the type of technology a include Egyptian hieroglyphics and the culture developed has been strongly tied to sculptures of ancient Greece. The wood- environmental factors. Not only were tools block prints made by the Japanese painter and technology made from local resources, Katsushika Hokusai are also an example they were also designed to solve specific of this type of art. They express a love of problems posed by nature. For example, nature’s beauty, simplicity, and power. farmers might build dams to prevent rivers Other art forms also gain worldwide from flooding and destroying their crops. appreciation. For example, literature such Other factors such as belief systems, as The Lord of the Rings contains a universal political decisions, and economic factors theme of a hero’s search for truth, good- can influence technology use, too. Some ness, and honor. Blues music is another religious groups, like the Amish people of example. Derived from African American the United States, selectively use technol- work songs and spirituals in the Ameri- ogy. They readily use gas and horse-drawn can South, blues songs express feelings of buggies. However, they reject technology sadness and struggle in the face of great they think will undermine their traditions, challenges. including cars and computers. Reading Check Describing What are the main types of cultural expressions?

Nature’s awesome power is a universal theme in the paintings of boats at sea created by Japanese artist Katushika Hokusai (at left) and English art- ist Joseph Mallord William Turner (below).

94 Chapter 4 DO NOT EDIT--Changes must be made through “File info” CorrectionKey=TX-B

Government decisions also affect tech- Inventors, too, change the world. For nology use. North Korea, for example, example, in 1879, Thomas Edison devel- restricts Internet use. To use the Internet, oped an affordable and practical light bulb. a North Korean must have special permis- At the time, the invention caused a sensa- sion and may only use it for government tion. People no longer had to burn candles purposes. Worldwide, however, the ­primary and oil lamps for light at night. Over time, barrier between people and technology electricity has transformed daily life and is economic. New technologies are sim- work for many of the world’s people. ply too expensive for many of the world’s Today, scientists and inventors con- people to access them. tinue to identify and solve problems. They often work in groups to make dis- Impact of Technology coveries or invent new devices or products Throughout time, advances in science and that will benefit future generations. This technology have made life easier. Some involves careful thinking about the future discoveries even changed the world. and making predictions about the social, Consider, for example, the work of political, economic, cultural, and environ- French scientist Louis Pasteur. His work mental impact of their work. revolutionized health and medicine. In 1870 Pasteur discovered that germs Reading Check Generalizing What are the caused infections. To prevent the spread of basic purposes of technology and science? disease, he urged people to wash their hands. He also developed vaccines to prevent deadly diseases and a process for SUmmary and Preview In this section removing bacteria from food. Today most you learned about the features that make milk, cheese, and juice on our grocery cultures similar. Next you will learn how shelves has been sterilized, or made germ- globalization is shaping world culture. free, through pasteurization.

Section 3 Assessment ONLINE QUIZ Reviewing Ideas, Terms, and Places Critical Thinking 1. a. Identify and Explain What are five basic social 4. Comparing Draw a chart like the one here to institutions? What purposes do they serve? ­organize your notes on the features of culture that b. Analyze What efforts and activities are most impor- all people share. tant for a religious institution to last over time? Explain. 2. a. Explain What is the relationship that exists between Social Cultural Science and Institutions Expressions Technology religious ideas, philosophical ideas, and cultures? b. Describe What forces influence cultural expressions? c. Identify List and explain examples of art, music, and literature with universal themes. 3. a. Explain How can factors related to belief systems, government, and economics affect technology use? Focus on Writing b. Make Inferences How might a resource such as river water affect how farmers use technology? 5. Describing Cultural Similarities What kind of c. Explain Give an example of a scientific discovery images could you use to show that all cultures have and an example of a technological innovation that social institutions, cultural expressions, and science have changed the world. Discuss the role of scientists and technology? and inventors in making the discovery and innovation.

THE WORLD’S PEOPLE 95