GEOGRAPHY SKILLS WORKSHEETS

They eventually took control of whole conti- With the Europeans came their languages, reli-
nents: North America, South America, Africa, and gions, and customs. The culture of the United
Australia. States, for example, is largely influenced by British
culture. In turn, the American culture is similar to
The most important way Europeans spread the Australian, which also came from the British.
their cultures to new lands was by settling there The culture of much of Latin America comes from
themselves. After 1800, millions of Europeans Spain and Portugal. As Map 6-3 shows, many
moved to other lands. Between 1900 and 1914, African countries are influenced by the cultures of
almost a million people left Europe each year. This the European countries that once ruled them.
was the greatest movement of people in history.

Using Your Skills

Recalling Facts

Use Map 6-2, Map 6-3, and the reading to answer these questions.
1. What is cultural diffusion?

the spread of ideas and culture as people move to new areas

2. Describe the areas covered by the Islamic culture by 1500.

North Africa, east coast of Africa, Spain, part of southern Europe and Asia, part of India,
and the East Indies

3. What part did location play in the spread of the Islamic culture?

Muslims lived in Southwest Asia, between Europe and China. This location between two large
regions of trade allowed Muslims to interact with both Europeans and Chinese. Islamic culture
was spread through this interaction.

4. How did the spread of the Islamic culture help the spread of European
cultures? Europeans learned of Chinese inventions such as gunpowder, paper, printing, and the compass through

Muslims. The Europeans used these inventions to spread their culture.

5. What was the most important way the Europeans spread their cultures?

The Europeans settled new lands and they took their culture with them.

6. What were the only two parts of Africa south of the Sahara not ruled by West Africa
Europeans in 1914? Liberia and Ethiopia

7. Which areas of Africa south of the Sahara were ruled by France?
By Britain? East Africa and southern Africa

LESSON 2 Cultural Diffusion 201