Intro to Cultural Landscapes

Cultural

Landscapes

Help us understand how we instinctively know
that these two pictures are in
different regions.

Cultural

Landscapes

Help us understand how we instinctively know
that these two pictures are in different regions of the world.

Cultural Landscapes are:

●

The “built forms” cultural groups put on the Earth that have
meaning and show values, representations, and experiences
associated with that group.

●

The human imprint and visible reflection of culture on the land

●

The “Earth writing” that cultural groups do to express who they
are.

Cultural

Landscapes

Can include:
●

Ways we modify/adapt the
natural environment

●

Architecture

●

Industrial and agricultural
practices

●

Language and toponyms

●

Religious buildings and
symbols

●

Ethnic characteristics - arts,
food, taboos)

●

Gendered spaces

Multiple Choice

Based on your understanding of cultural landscape, which one does not belong?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Open Ended

Based on the information on the previous slides, including the video, DEFINE cultural landscape.

Land Use

How and how much we modify
physical features, as well as for what
purpose can tell us about the values
and customs of a group of people.

Consider the following:
●What is the layout of this culture’s
settlements?

●Are there a lot of protected or
sacred lands?

●Is most land owned privately or
communially?

Open Ended

Many backyards where we live look like the ones in the this picture. What might this communicate about the values of this community?

Land Use

Both of these pictures show how agricultural
communities. How does the layout of these
differ? What might the layout tell us about
these communities?

Open Ended

How does the settlement of this agricultural community differ from those in Nebraska? What might the layout of this community tell us about the people?

Agricultural Practices

The most fundamental cultural and
economic land use is agriculture.

Consider:
What is grown?
How is it grown?

Helps us understand how people
get food from their environment as
well a dietary preferences.

Multiple Choice

Where in the world is this agricultural practice most common?

• East and Southeast Asia

• North America

• Africa

• Europe

Industrial Practices

A society’s economic activities
create visible markers on the
landscape, such as:

●Modifications to physical
landscape

●Toponyms

●Buildings

●Locations of city’s center

Match

Match the symbol to each of the major industries.

Automobiles

Steel

Union Pacific Railroad

• Automobiles

• Steel

• Union Pacific Railroad

Architecture

Architecture is often tied to the
environment

●building materials

●roofs

●layout of homes/
Communities

But can also communicate:
●Age of a civilization

●Technology

Match

Match the following McDonald's to their location based on the architecture.

Lijiang, China

Paris, France

Bray, Ireland

Lindvallen, Sweden

Hyde Park, New York

• Lijiang, China

• Paris, France

• Bray, Ireland

• Lindvallen, Sweden

• Hyde Park, New York

Language & Toponyms

Visible language is a clue to
the identities of the people,
past and present.

●

Place names (toponyms past a present)

●

Street names

●

Store & street signs

●

Public Murals

Multiple Choice

Based on the language shown in this shopping district, where was this photograph taken?

• New York City

• Barcelona, Spain

• Shibuya, Japan

• Nirobi, Kenya

Open Ended

Explain how this photograph shows the concept of globalization.

Religion

Although the spiritual beliefs may
be less visible, religion can
significantly impact the landscape.

●Locations/house of worship

●Holy sites/sacred places

●Burial practices

●Clothing

●Dietary practices

●Cleansing rituals

●Ceremonies

Match

Match the following symbols to the appropriate religious symbol.

Buddhism

Hinduism

Islam

Judaism

Sikhism

• Buddhism

• Hinduism

• Islam

• Judaism

• Sikhism

Match

Match the following sacred place or symbol with the appropriate religion.

Hinduism

Christianity

Islam

Judaism

• Hinduism

• Christianity

• Islam

• Judaism

Gendered Spaces

Space designed and
deliberately incorporated
into the landscape to
accommodate gender
roles.
● Transportation
● Public Spaces - parks,

restaurants

Observing which genders are concentrated in different
areas of the community gives us an idea of gender roles
within a culture.

Gendered Spaces

While gender segregation in the
workplace has not been a legal
requirement in Saudi Arabia since
2005, many employers continue
to separate the sexes “to balance
the conservative values of a
majority-male workforce with the
country’s apparent desire to get
more women into work”, The
Guardian reported.

In an effort to combat
gender-based violence, Mexico
City designated portions of public
transportation as for women only.
In 2002, the first two cars of each
subway train were set aside for
women. In 2008, the city
launched a new series of bright
pink buses marked “solo
mujeres,” (women only).

Purdah Bagh was built in India as
a safe space for Muslim women -
where they could remove their
burqa because it is a women’s
only space. Today it is open to
women of all backgrounds but
continues to be a safe space for
women within the city of Delhi.
Government officials plan to build
250 more like it through Delhi.

Open Ended

What gendered spaces can you think of in American culture?