Culture is a term that can refer to a broad range of activities. Some of these include social norms, dress, architecture, music and literature. It can also refer to a set of beliefs that people have in common. In this sense, culture is often used as a way to distinguish one group from another. It is not the same across all groups, however, as each society may have its own distinct cultures. For example, there are regional cultures, ethnic cultures and age-related cultures.
The concept of cultural has been a major concern in the history of ideas and societies. In the nineteenth century, the cultural turn became a dominant approach in the study of human societies. This movement, inspired by Marxism but open to other approaches, has prompted a wide range of reinterpretations of historical events and long-term trends.
Cultural historians have sought to understand how people in different societies organize their lives and make sense of the world around them. In doing so, they have drawn on a variety of disciplines, including archaeology, anthropology and sociology. In addition, the discipline of cultural history has incorporated concepts from literary and political theory.
Among the most important developments in cultural history is a recognition that culture does not exist in isolation. Cultures are not merely social constructs, but are influenced by the environment and interact with other cultures. Some of these interactions are ephemeral, but others are lasting and have shaped the evolution of human societies.
In addition to the influences of the environment, the culture of a person or society is influenced by the culture of his or her parents and ancestors. It is also influenced by the cultures of other societies to which a person has exposure through travel or interaction with foreigners. This is known as acculturation, and it can result in the replacement of some of a person’s native or ancestral traits by those of other cultures.
There is also a distinction between non-material and material culture. The former consists of the non-physical ideas and behaviors that are culturally transmitted, while the latter refers to the physical evidence of a culture in the artifacts that it creates or has created.
While it is tempting to define cultural in terms of an ethnicity or a society, there are also cases where culture can be defined in terms of specific activities or objects. For example, a musical instrument can be considered to be cultural, as it is a part of the traditions and values of a particular society. Other examples of cultural objects include clothing, food and artifacts. Some of these objects are more ceremonial in nature, while others are used for decoration. In general, cultural objects are considered to be valuable by a culture and can be passed down from generation to generation. This can be a good way to help preserve and protect cultural items. It can also help keep them from becoming diluted by other cultures or being lost completely.