Study Notes for Social Test
The beliefs, customs, practices and behaviours of a
particular nation or group of people make up its culture. All people have the
same basic needs, such as food, water,
clothing, and shelter.
Culture – a learned way of living including language,
beliefs, arts, sports, and foods that is shared by a group of people
The most dominant religions of West and Central Africa is
Islam and Christianity
People in West and Central Africa enjoy both traditional
dance and modern dance. Modern music reflect traditional rhythms and
styles. The Ashanti people of Ghana
weave a cloth called kente which is made of bright narrow strips in complex
patterns. In West Africa, music is used
to entertain but also to teach, tell
stories, and record history.
The most popular sport in West and Central Africa is soccer.
First Nations peoples have unique and diverse cultures and languages. The Metis and Inuit also contribute to Canada’s
cultural identity. Other cultures have
come to Canada from Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and South America.
The Two most popular religions in Canada are Roman Catholic
and Protestant (2001)
Music in Canada often reflects cultural heritage and can be
used to promote cultural traditions.
Trade – the exchange of buying and selling of good and services
in a market.
Sometimes cultures change very quickly. For some people this can be frightening. They worry that their culture may disappear.
Cultures spread in many ways including settlement, trade,
technology, migration and communication.
Saskatchewan is a multicultural province.
Culture, society and family are all related. A society is a
group of people who have organized themselves to meet their basic needs. Societies can be large or small.
A social structure is a pattern of organized relationships
among groups of people within a society.
People interact with one another, with groups, and with institutions.
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms protect the rights of all
Canadians. Rights such as Equality
Rights, Democratic Rights and Religious Rights are examples
A reserve is land set aside for the occupation and use of
First Nations in exchange for giving up claim to their traditional territories;
title to the land remains with the federal government
Colonize is to establish settlements in another country in
which the colonizing country controls the people and resources of the colonized
country; can also apply to the control of a group of people within a country by
government policies.
European Colonization in Africa:
European nations wanted colonies to 1. Gain dominance 2. To get
natural resources 3. As markets for goods made in factories.
Europeans acquired colonies in 1884 Europeans met and divided
up Africa among themselves. No African
leaders took part. Before long, Europe
controlled nearly the entire continent.
The effects of the Colonial powers affected African peoples
by ignoring the location of ethnic groups when creating borders, by not
developing colonial economies beyond their own aims, and by enslaving and
assimilating Africans.
