The Concept of Culture in History
Cultural relates to the beliefs, ideas and values of a group of people. These are manifested in art, cuisine, fashion and architecture as well as in the everyday attitudes, assumptions and prejudices of those who live within a culture, from magical beliefs to racial hierarchies and gender roles. The term is also used to refer to the ways in which a society expresses itself, whether through dance, religion or literature. This is a broader definition of culture than that given by anthropologists, who use it to describe the totality of human behavior and mental development.
The concept of culture is an important one in social sciences and the humanities. Many of the ideas behind it are complex, and it is difficult to define exactly what is meant by the term. Nevertheless, the idea has been widely accepted by academics and has had considerable influence in historical thought.
As the field of history evolved, scholars began to look at the relationship between culture and society in particular. This resulted in the study of a number of specific cultures, such as the Seneca culture and the Eskimo culture. It is now customary for historians to speak of the culture of a society or even of a geographic area, such as the North American Plains culture.
Some historians, particularly those who follow the theory of evolution by natural selection, have interpreted culture as an adaptation for survival. According to this view, the emergence of culture represents a step beyond instinctive behavior and toward the capacity for more sophisticated behavior. This was a natural extension of the evolutionary trend toward greater and more secure life, explains Ohio State University historian John L. Brooke.
Other scholars, especially those who subscribe to a theory of historical materialism, have viewed the evolution of culture as part of the general process of human progress. According to this view, the development of culture is a form of collective programming that influences and directs future action.
A third school of thought focuses on the meaning and significance of culture. It argues that a culture is not just a collection of ideas and objects, but is the fundamental basis for human identity. It posits that human beings are not just rational animals, but are also spiritual creatures. Consequently, they have a need to affirm and celebrate their own identity through the creation of symbols such as religious ceremonies, art, music and literature. The study of these elements of a culture is known as cultural history. This field is a response to the perceived rigidity of social history and has led to a wider range of research topics, including gender studies and more focused studies on race and environment.
Cultural relates to the beliefs, ideas and values of a group of people. These are manifested in art, cuisine, fashion and architecture as well as in the everyday attitudes, assumptions and prejudices of those who live within a culture, from magical beliefs to racial hierarchies and gender roles. The term is also used to refer to the ways in which a society expresses itself, whether through dance, religion or literature. This is a broader definition of culture than that given by anthropologists, who use it to describe the totality of human behavior and mental development. The concept of culture is an important one in social sciences and the humanities. Many of the ideas behind it are complex, and it is difficult to define exactly what is meant by the term. Nevertheless, the idea has been widely accepted by academics and has had considerable influence in historical thought. As the field of history evolved, scholars began to look at the relationship between culture and society in particular. This resulted in the study of a number of specific cultures, such as the Seneca culture and the Eskimo culture. It is now customary for historians to speak of the culture of a society or even of a geographic area, such as the North American Plains culture. Some historians, particularly those who follow the theory of evolution by natural selection, have interpreted culture as an adaptation for survival. According to this view, the emergence of culture represents a step beyond instinctive behavior and toward the capacity for more sophisticated behavior. This was a natural extension of the evolutionary trend toward greater and more secure life, explains Ohio State University historian John L. Brooke. Other scholars, especially those who subscribe to a theory of historical materialism, have viewed the evolution of culture as part of the general process of human progress. According to this view, the development of culture is a form of collective programming that influences and directs future action. A third school of thought focuses on the meaning and significance of culture. It argues that a culture is not just a collection of ideas and objects, but is the fundamental basis for human identity. It posits that human beings are not just rational animals, but are also spiritual creatures. Consequently, they have a need to affirm and celebrate their own identity through the creation of symbols such as religious ceremonies, art, music and literature. The study of these elements of a culture is known as cultural history. This field is a response to the perceived rigidity of social history and has led to a wider range of research topics, including gender studies and more focused studies on race and environment.