AP Human geography Unit 3 Religion

1. How is religion
seen in the
cultural
landscape?

2. Cultural landscape =
• The visible imprint of human activity &
culture on the landscape
• The environment built by humans
• The forms superimposed on the physical
environment by the activities of humans

3. Religion & the Cultural Landscape
• Marks cultural landscape with
– Houses of worship
– Cemeteries
– Religious symbols & icons
– Stores designated for sales of religious goods
– Sacred sites

4. Pilgrimage
• When adherents voluntarily
travel to a religious site to pay
respect or participate in a ritual
at the site.
• Part of both ethnic &
universalizing religions
• Not a mission trip – no goal to
convert people.
• Purpose of travels is to have a
connection with the sacred
spaces of their faith.

5. Sacred Sites• Places or spaces people
infuse with religious
meaning
• Historically, buttes (a
conspicuous isolated hill with steep,
often vertical sides & a small,
relatively flat top), mountain
peaks, or rivers have
often been considered
sacred.
Merrick's Butte in Arizona

6. Jerusalem
• Sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims
Jews Christians Muslims
•Most sacred site:
Wailing Wall (aka
Western Wall)
•Temple Mount was
the site of 2 great
temples of the
Jewish people
•Jerusalem is sacred
site b/c of the
sacrifice Abraham
was willing to make
of Isaac, his son, &
b/c Jesus’ crucifixion
took place outside
of the city’s walls
•Al-Haram al-
Sharif/Dome of the
Rock is where
Muslims believe
Mohammad
ascended into
heaven

7. Landscapes of Hinduism &
Buddhism
• Hindus believe the construction
of a temple bestows merits on
the builder & will be rewarded
• The Hindu cultural landscape is
dotted with countless shrines
– Often near water b/c water has a
holy function and ritual bathing
is important in Hinduism

8. Varanasi, India
• Hindus perform morning rituals in the
Ganges River at one of Hinduism’s most
sacred places, the city of Varanasi, known as
the city of Lord Shiva

9. Sacred Sites of Buddhism
• Bodh Gaya, India
– Location where Buddha sat under a
Bodhi tree & received
enlightenment
• Stupas
– Bell-shaped structures that protect
burial mounds, contain a piece of
the Buddha
• Pagodas

10. Landscapes of
Christianity• Medieval Europe: cathedral,
church, or monastery was the
focus of life
• The Reformation, the rise of
secularism, and the decline of
organized religion are
reflected in the cultural
landscape
– Churches closing, fewer
services offered

11. Landscapes of Islam
• Mosques with
minarets, from which
the faithful are called
to prayer 5 times a
day
• Geometric designs &
calligraphy, rather
than depiction of the
human body

12. Islamic Pilgrimage
• Hajj – one of the Five Pillars of Islam
• All Muslims, if financially and physically able, must
make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their
lifetime
• Access to Mecca is restricted, allowing Muslims only.
The Saudi Arabian government believes that allowing
non-Muslim tourists to visit Mecca would
disturb the
sanctity
of these places.