Overview of Cultures and Ethnic Groups (Level I)

by Christiane Cunnar, Human Relations Area Files

This exercise is designed for students to gain a better understanding of general aspects of cultures in terms of linguistic affiliations, socio-political organizations, kinship patterns and other factors. You may find that cultures and ethnic groups, although located in the same geographic region, may vary significantly in their cultural identity.

Instructions for the "Culture Summary" Exercise: 

Step 1. Select three (or more) cultures from the list found at the link below.

Culture List with OWC Codes

Step 2. In eHRAF World Cultures (http://ehrafworldcultures.yale.edu) click on "Browse" then on "Regions" where you will find the list of cultures (see above) classified into major geographic regions and subregions. 

Step 3. Click on the culture name and then on "culture summary." The culture summary contains general information about the culture as outlined in the headings and sub-headings below:

List of headings and subheadings of the Culture Summaries in eHRAF:

Ethnonyms Marriage and Family
Orientation Marriage
Location Domestic Unit
Demography Inheritance
Linguistic Affiliation Socialization
History and Cultural Relations Sociopolitical Organization
Settlements Social Organization
Economy Political Organization
Subsistence Social Control
Commercial Activities Conflict
Industrial Arts Religion and Expressive Culture
Trade Religious Beliefs
Division of Labor Religious Practitioners
Land Tenure Ceremonies
Kinship Arts
Kin Groups and Descent Medicine
Kinship Terminology Death and Afterlife

Step 4. Select five or more of the headings listed above and use these to compare and contrast the three (or more) cultures selected. 

written by: Christiane Cunnar, HRAF. For questions, comments, and suggestions contact her at christiane.cunnar@yale.edu, 1-800-520-HRAF or 203-764-9401