Types of Cultural Diffusion

Types of Cultural Diffusion

7.1.4 HS Cultures of Africa

7.2.4 HS Cultures of Asia

What is cultural diffusion?

• cultural diffusion - the spread of a culture's beliefs, practices or items from one place to another

• It can include the spread of ideas, religion, food, tools, etc.

Types of Cultural Diffusion

• Relocation diffusion

• Expansion diffusion (three sub-types): contagious, hierarchical, stimulus

Relocation Diffusion

• This is when culture spreads by people moving to a new place and bringing their culture with them

• An example would be immigration to the United States.

Contagious Diffusion

• This is when an idea spreads by contact from person to person.

• The number of people influenced by the culture grows, and it spreads across a larger distance.

• Examples: viral videos, the use of social media around the world, the spread of religion, etc.

Hierarchical Diffusion

• This is when the leaders or most influential people in a society adopt an idea, then it spread to lower people in society.

• An example would be how fashion trends are first adopted by people in big cities first or by music stars or social media influencers.

Stimulus Diffusion

• This is when an idea is adopted and then changed and adapted to the local conditions or culture.

• An example would be different menu items in McDonald's restaurants around the world to meet local tastes and cultures.

Guided Practice

For each of the following scenarios, choose which type of diffusion is represents. Think about why it represents that type of diffusion.

Multiple Choice

Islam spread to North and West Africa along trade routes. Merchants and traders introduced Islam into these regions via the Trans-Saharan trade route. Islam became the dominant religion in this region as more African people became Muslim. What type of diffusion is this?

• relocation

• contagious

• hierarchical

• stimulus

Multiple Choice

West African rulers in Mali and Ghana such as Mansa Musa became Muslim and made Islam the official religion of their empires. What type of diffusion is this?

• relocation

• contagious

• hierarchical

• stimulus

Multiple Choice

Arab Muslims conquered North Africa in the seventh and eighth centuries (600s and 700s). Many Arab Muslims moved to this region to serve as regional governors, merchants or missionaries. What type of diffusion is this?

• relocation

• contagious

• hierarchical

• stimulus

Multiple Choice

As African people in West Africa and East Africa adopted Islam, they changed it by integrating their own local religious customs such as animism and ancestor worship. What type of diffusion is this?

• relocation

• contagious

• hierarchical

• stimulus