Cultural Regions of the World

• Language:– English

• Religions/Beliefs: – Predominately Christian (varied denominations)

• Government:– Representative Democracy

• Economics:– Free Enterprise Economics. Industry is varied but focus is on high tech

manufacturing and services. • Trade:

– Benefit from Free trade agreements with NAFTA and CAFTA – Exports technology for

• Diversity– Multicultural – varied races, ethnicities, religions and

nationalities. Some division within. • EX: French Quebec

• Major Features:– Democratic Values – Free Enterprise – Inalienable

Rights

• Language:– Spanish & Portuguese

• Religions/Beliefs: – Predominately Christian (Catholic)

• Government:– Mostly Democracy/Republics (Except Communist Cuba)

• Economics:– Developing Economies

• Trade:– Benefits from NAFTA and CAFTA

• Diversity– Blend of Native American, European & Africa

• Major Features:– Developing Industries & Deforestation of Amazon

Rainforest

• Language-• Many different languages• English taught for business

• Religion/Belief system-• Christian, some Islam

• Government-• Mix of Republics and

Constitutional Monarchy (England)

• Economics-• European Union, most use the

euro as currency

• Trade-• Manufactured

goods/machinery/luxury goods

• Diversity-• Fairly diverse with

somewhat homogenous populations in individual countries

• Major Features-• European Union• TOURISM

• Language-• Russian and

regional dialects• Religion/Belief

system-• Eastern

Orthodox Christian and some Islam

• Government-• Democratic

• Economics-• Capitalism after

years of Communism

• Trade-• Oil

• Diversity-• Russians and other

ethnicities• Major Features-• Corruption threatens

democracy in this area

• Language-• Arabic

• Religion/Belief system-• Islam

• Government-• Republic

• Economics-• Subsistence agriculture• Oil

• Trade-• Exports: Crude Oil/Paper• Imports: Machinery

• Diversity-• Diverse tribal cultures united

through colonization & later spread of Islam

• Major Features-• Arab Spring (overthrow of

rulers)• Access to water (Aswan Dam)• Suez Canal (connects

Mediterranean Sea w/ Indian Ocean)

• Language– Various combinations of Bantu, European and Arabic

• Religions/Beliefs: – 41% Christian 31% Islamic 25% animist

• Government:– Predominately Dictatorship, Democracy (South Africa)

• Economics:– Subsistence Agriculture and herding. Small number of

commercial farming.• Trade:– Cash Crop Exports: Coffee, Cacao,

• Diversity– Many diverse ethnic groups and tribes were divided by

colonial powers resulting in conflict and oppression. • Major Features:– Post Colonial period – Low levels of Education and Political instability mixed

with constant drought and disease have made development difficult

• Language-• Mandarin (China) & Japanese

• Religion/Belief system-• China-Buddhism• Japan- Shintoism

• Government-• China- Communism• Japan- Constitutional Monarchy

• Economics-• China- Free Market Economy w/

some state control• Japan- Free Market

& Japan

• Trade-• Imports: Machinery/Oil• Exports: Manufactured Goods/ Machinery

• Diversity-• Homogeneous Culture

• Major Features-• High Population Density• Massive Economic growth in China

& Japan

• Language– Hindi (English is the language of business)

• Religions/Beliefs: – Hinduism (63%), Islam (32%)

• Government:– Parliamentary Republics (Unstable)

• Economics:– Subsistence/Commercial Agriculture,

cottage/Commercial industry• Trade:– Textiles and clothing

• Diversity– Varied religions, and ethnic groups have created

tensions throughout the region.• Ex: Hindu-Muslim conflict in Kashmir

• Major Features:– Slow but consistent development.– Globalizing!!!!– Exploding population growth struggles with low

standard of living and deep seated social inequalities.

• Language- • Many different languages

• Religion/Belief system-• Mix of Buddhism, Islam, w/small amounts of other

religions• Government-• Mix of Communism (Vietnam) and democracy

(Indonesia)• Economics-Developing economies• Vietnam is opening to a free market system

• Trade-• Exports: Oil (Indonesia) &

Textiles• Imports: Steel, Medicine

• Diversity-• Fairly diverse except

Vietnam• Major Features-• Steady Growth• Terrorism

• Language-• English

• Religion/Belief system-• Christianity

• Government-• Parliamentary Republic

• Economics-• Free Market

• Trade- • Oil & mined minerals

• Diversity-• Aboriginal, European (mostly

British), Asian• Major Features-• Drought & Bush fires-Australia• Earthquakes- New Zealand

• Language-• Arabic, Hebrew in Israel

• Religion/Belief system-• Islam, Judaism in Israel

• Government-• Monarchy –Saudi Arabia• Theocracy –Iran• Republic- Iraq, Turkey,

Lebanon, Israel• Economics-• Oil

• Trade-• Export: Oil• Import: Food

• Diversity-• Arab, Jews in Israel

• Major Features-• Fertile Crescent• Birthplace of

Judaism, Christianity, & Islam

• Plagued by war

NAME: ____________________________________ DATE: ______________ Period: ________

World Culture Regions

NAME: ____________________________________ DATE: ______________ Period: ________

World Culture Regions