Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Deserts
Outsiders generally were not adapted to desert conditions and therefore they found such regions in-
hospitableandavoidedthem.Accordingly,desertshavetendedtoisolatepeopleandinhibitthespread
of culture. For example, traditional culture groups continue to inhabit central desert areas of Africa,
Australia, and Asia. The Bushmen of Namibia and aborigines of Australia are historic examples, al-
though members of these groups have experienced significant change in recent decades. Neverthe-
less, the long persistence of their unique cultures testifies that deserts create a formidable physical
barrier.
Tundra
Tundra, which you can read about in Chapter 10, refers to very high latitude environments dominated
by short grasses. The climate is sub-freezing for much of the year. Native peoples adapted to these
harsh circumstances over the years and developed distinctive cultures. Like deserts, however, out-
siders generally are not well-adapted to tundra, and therefore have found such regions inhospitable
and avoided them. Thus, tundra has served as a physical barrier. Specifically, it has tended to isolate
traditional peoples in northernmost North America and Europe from sources of culture change and in
doing so encourage a world of cultural differences.
Socializing effects
Social barriers are human institutions that inhibit the spread of culture. These can be as for-
midable as physical barriers, and sometimes more so. The following sections discuss four of
the more prominent examples of social barriers.
Language
The simple inability to speak somebody else's language limits opportunity for cultural interaction and
sharing. Though media and multilingualism are bringing people closer together, the continued exist-
ence of several thousand languages remains a powerful barrier to cultural diffusion.
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