Global Regents Prep Cultural Diffusion

							Name : ______________________________________________

                                 Thematic Review: Cultural Diffusion

        Cultural diffusion refers to the process of when two or more different cultures blend together.
For example, when a religion or language spreads to new areas, it is an example of cultural diffusion. This
is a process that has occurred throughout history, even today. For example, a fast food restaurant like
McDonalds that has spread all around the world has to adapt to the flavors and types of food that people
enjoy in different parts of the world.
        In terms of the regents, most questions about cultural diffusion refer to cultural diffusion that has
happened a long time ago. Sometimes, they ask you a general question about what cultural diffusion is.
Other times, they ask you about specific examples.

General questions about cultural diffusion:

• Kushites adapted Egyptian art and architecture.
• Greeks adopted Phoenician characters for an alphabet.
• Arabs used the Indian mathematical concept of zero.

These actions are examples of
      1. filial piety
      2. cultural diffusion
      3. scientific research
      4. ethnocentrism

• Buddhism is introduced into Japan around A.D. 1200.
• Islam extends from the Middle East into Spain by A.D. 732.
• Catholic and Protestant missionaries bring Christianity to Africa in the 1800s.

Each of these statements reflects the concept of
       1. cultural diffusion
       2. urbanization
       3. civil disobedience
       4. isolationism

Example of Cultural Diffusion: Alexander the Great and Hellenistic Civilization

       Alexander the Great was a leader in ancient Greece. He was also a military genius. By the time he
was 30, Alexander has conquered most of the modern Middle East from Greece to India. However,
Alexander was a very tolerant ruler. He tried to learn the languages of the people he conquered, adopted
their customs when he was among them, and dressed the way people dressed depending on where he
was. As a result, Alexander’s conquest encouraged cultural diffusion. The blending of Greek, Persian,
Egyptian, and Indian civilization as a result of Alexander’s conquest created what was known as
Hellenistic civilization.
Which leader is most closely associated with the accomplishment shown by the illustration?




       1. Charlemagne
       2. Mansa Musa
       3. Alexander the Great
       4. Suleiman the Magnificent

Alexander the Great’s conquests of Greece, Asia Minor, Egypt and Persia led to the
      1. spread of Hellenic culture
      2. adoption of a feudal system
      3. establishment of representative democracy
      4. spread of Islamic culture throughout Europe

What was the effect of Alexander the Great’s conquests?
      1. expansion of Hellenistic culture
      2. formation of the Christian church
      3. decreased importance of the Silk Roads
      4. increased support of the Mayan leaders


Example of Cultural Diffusion: The Silk Roads

       The Silk roads refer to a series of trading routes that went all the way from China to Europe. They
were called the Silk Roads because one of the most valuable products being traded along the routes was
silk. The Silk Roads encouraged interaction between many cultures of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe,
which of course led to cultural diffusion. In particular, the religion of Buddhism spread along the Silk
Roads from India to China, then Korea and Japan.

The exchange of silks and spices and the spread of Buddhism along the Silk Roads are examples of
      1. cultural diffusion        3. ethnocentrism
      2. self-sufficiency          4. Desertification

The Silk Road was important because it allowed for the
       1. exploration of China by the Roman Army
       2. development of agriculture by the nomadic people of Central Asia
       3. movement of Chinese armies through Southeast Asia
       4. exchange of goods between Asia and the Middle East
The technology of papermaking traveled from China to Baghdad along the
       1. Saharan caravan trails         3. Silk Roads
       2. Trans-Siberian Railway         4. Suez Canal


Example of Cultural Diffusion: Japan

        Japan is a perfect example of a culture that developed because of cultural diffusion. Japan, which is
located off the coast of east Asia, was very isolated from the rest of the world. The two closest
civilizations were in China and Korea. Therefore, most ideas from the rest of the world reached Japan
from China and Korea. For example, Buddhism is one of the major religions in Japan, even though
Buddhism started in India and spread through China and Korea first. Japan’s architecture is also similar
to architecture in Korea and Japan. Finally, early Japan also got technology and farming techniques from
Korea and Japan.




These map is an example of
      1. filial piety
      2. cultural diffusion
      3. scientific research
      4. ethnocentrism
Which two cultures most influenced the development of early Japan?
      1. Greek and Roman
      2. Chinese and Korean
      3. Egyptian and Mesopotamian
      4. Indian and Persian

Which statement about cultural diffusion in Asia is most accurate?
      1. Byzantine traders brought the Justinian Code to China
      2. Roman legions introduced Christianity to India
      3. Indian monks brought Islam to the Middle East
      4. Chinese ideas and practices spread into Korea and Japan

A valid generalization about early Japanese culture is that Japan
       1. had a strong influence on the development of culture in Korea
       2. spread Shinto throughout Asia
       3. maintained a uniquely individual culture while borrowing much from other cultures
       4. imported almost all of its cultural ideas from China, resulting in nearly identical cultures

Example of Cultural Diffusion: Mansa Musa and the spread of Islam into West Africa

        Mansa Musa was a Muslim African ruler of the African kingdom of Mali. Mali was very rich,
because it was situated on important trade routes in west Africa. As a Muslim, Mansa Musa had to make
at least one trip to Mecca during his life. When he did go, people all across north Africa and the Middle
East were impressed by his wealth. Because of the impression Mansa Musa made on the kingdoms he
passed through, many others in North and West Africa began to adopt Islam as well. As a result, Islam
increasingly spread into West Africa.

What was a significant effect of Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca?
      1. The African written language spread to southwest Asia.
      2. Military leaders eventually controlled Mali.
      3. Islamic learning and culture expanded in Mali.
      4. The trading of gold for salt ended.

Mansa Musa's journey to Mecca in the 1300's is evidence that
      1. the Crusades had a great influence on western Africa
      2. most African leaders were educated in the Middle East
      3. European culture was superior to the cultures of western Africa
      4. Islam had a major influence on the Mali Empire

The spread of Islam into the kingdoms of Ghana and Mali resulted from
      1. imperialism                      3. cultural diffusion
      2. ethnocentrism                    4. self-determination

Example of Cultural Diffusion: The Crusades

        Most people know the Crusades as a series of wars between Christian and Muslim armies over
control of the “Holy Land.” Christians believed that since Christ had lived in the area of modern day
Israel, they should control that land. Muslims, who already lived there, wanted to defend their land from
Christian invaders. The Crusades were a series of wars fought for 200 years over control of this land,
with the Christian Europeans eventually losing.
       While they lost the Crusades, Europeans received many long term benefits from them. At the time,
Muslim civilization was far more advanced than European civilization. Muslims had developed
mathematical and scientific knowledge like algebra and medicine. As a result of contact with Muslims
during the Crusades, Europeans began to bring back these ideas to Europe.

• The Crusades led to more contact between Muslims and Europeans and brought new ideas to Western
Europe.
• The large armies of Europeans traveling across Asia and the Middle East led to increased cultural
diffusion.
• The Crusades led to Middle Eastern culture and technology being spread to Europe.

Which statement expresses a direct result of the Crusades?
      1. the volume of trade decreased as the manors became self-sufficient
      2. Christians gained permanent control of the Holy Land
      3. the power of European nations declined because of a lack of interest in world affairs
      4. contact with the Muslim and Byzantine worlds brought new ideas to Western Europe

What was one result of large armies traveling great distances during the Crusades?
      1. Europe's population severely declined. 3. Cultural diffusion increased.
      2. Democracy in the Middle East grew.      4. Slavery was eliminated.

Which circumstance best describes a long-term result of the Crusades?
      1. Muslim control of Jerusalem ended
      2. Feudalism began in western Europe
      3. Cultural exchanged between the Middle East and Europe grew
      4. Christians and Muslims achieved a lasting peace

One major result of the Crusades was the
      1. permanent occupation of the Holy Land by the Europeans
      2. long-term decrease in European trade
      3. conversion of most Muslims to Christianity
      4. spread of Middle Eastern culture and technology to Europe