Cultural Diffusion

Have you ever thought about how trends pass from one group of people to another? Or thought about how more significant ideas, like those around religion, move from place to place? Cultural diffusion, and its various off-shoots, are often responsible for the movement of ideas. Keep reading to learn more!

Cultural Diffusion Definition

Cultural diffusion describes the way cultures merge and spread around the world. Ideas can spread within a culture or from one culture to another. Sometimes people use the phrase transcultural diffusion to call out an idea spreading across cultures instead of within cultures.

Cultural diffusion happens through

• times of conflict

• migration

• trade

Cultural Diffusion Examples

Examples of ideas that spread via cultural diffusion include

Types of Cultural Diffusion

1. Relocation Diffusion

2. Expansion Diffusion

3. Contagious Diffusion

4. Hierarchical Diffusion

5. Stimulus Diffusion

6. Maladaptive Diffusion

Fig. 1: Glasgow Chinatown. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Types of Cultural Diffusion Summary Table

Below you can learn about the different types of cultural diffusion, along with examples.

Cultural Diffusion and the Silk Road

The Silk Road, also known as the Silk Roads or the Silk Route, was a network of trade routes that connected China, Europe, and the Middle East. It was significant because it allowed goods to be traded to other regions. It also allowed for cultural ideas to spread from one region to another.

The movement of cultural ideas from one place to another is a significant example of cultural diffusion. Remember, the term cultural diffusion describes how different pieces of culture spread and merge. So, what did this look like along the Silk Road?

Many cities popped up along the Silk Road; These cities were naturally great places for merchants, traders, and other travelers to come together in large groups. As the diverse group of travelers was exposed to one another, their cultures and customs were shared. This often happened in caravansaries.

Caravansaries were like small roadside hotels built along major trade routes like the Silk Road. They were popular from the 3rd to the 17th centuries and used by merchants and caravans transporting goods as a safe place for respite. Not only were they space for travelers to rest, but they also functioned as exchange hubs. Not only were goods exchanged, but ideas were also shared.

Fig. 2: The Desert Castle Qasr Kharana in Jordan

Religion

It's important to realize that while the Silk Road may have facilitated the trade of physical goods, it also facilitated the trade of something else: important cultural aspects such as religion.

Religion forms a large part of one's identity. Many feel it's essential to be able to practice their religion wherever they travel. This was true along the Silk Road as well. Many people built shrines and houses of worship along the Silk Road. Missionaries would often travel alongside merchants and other travelers.

Travelers along the Silk Road were exposed to various religions, including Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Shinto, and Christianity.

Religion and other ideologies spread among those who traveled through Central Asia.

Buddhism:

Buddhism spread from India to Pakistan and Afghanistan. Buddhist merchants built temples and shrines as they traveled the Silk Road. Priests and monks filled the temples and preached to those who traveled through. This enabled religion to spread via cultural diffusion. Buddhism continued to spread to China, Korea, and Japan.

Christianity

Christianity also spread along the Silk Road by cultural diffusion. Christianity on the Silk Road was known as Nestorianism. Those who practiced this religion built churches along the Silk Road and preached to travelers. It spread to Persia, India, and China.

Technology

The Silk Road was not just a way for religion to spread via cultural diffusion. It also allowed for goods to be traded from region to region. The Silk Road allowed for technology to spread through cultural diffusion.

Chinese Technology

The Chinese had four great inventions. They were

1. papermaking
2. gunpowder
3. the compass
4. moveable type

These advances were spread along the Silk Road as the technology moved west. Silkworms and silk spinning spread along the Silk Road.

Fig. 3: The Silk Road.

Cultural Diffusion Summary

Cultural diffusion describes the way cultures merge and spread around the world. Ideas can spread within a culture or from one culture to another. Cultural diffusion happens through times of conflict, migration, and trade. Diffusion from migration and trade are especially significant in cultural diffusion along the Silk Road.

Examples of ideas that spread via cultural diffusion include philosophy, religion, fashion, language, and technology.

It is important to note that there are several types of cultural diffusion. A list is provided below, with examples and definitions in the text above.

1. Relocation Diffusion

2. Expansion Diffusion

3. Contagious Diffusion

4. Hierarchical Diffusion

5. Stimulus Diffusion

6. Maladaptive Diffusion

The Silk Road, also known as the Silk Roads or the Silk Route, was a network of trade routes that connected China, Europe, and the Middle East. It was significant because it allowed goods to be traded to different regions. It also allowed for cultural ideas to spread from one region to another. This happened as towns were developed along the network of trade routes. Caravansaries, temples, and shrines facilitated the spread of religious ideas.

The Silk Road was not just a way for religion to spread via cultural diffusion. It also allowed for goods to be traded from region to region. The Silk Road allowed for technology to spread through cultural diffusion.