3. Note that some of “my” regions have
different names from the “Culture
Realms” (Macrocultural Regions) core
map. Both are correct and can be used
interchangeably. You should be familiar
with both terms.
6. WESTERN EUROPE
Language branches—Germanic and
Romance
Religion—Germanic speakers are
Protestant, Romance speakers are Catholic
Notes—The exception is that Greece is not
Germanic or Romance, or Protestant or
Catholic. Its language is Indo-European (as
is Germanic and Romance), but it’s branch
is Hellenic. Religion is Orthodox
8. EAST ASIA
Language—Mandarin (dominant and also
lingua franca in the area)
Religion—Non-Religious, Atheist, or Buddhist
Notes—Although Mandarin is an official
language in Tibet, Tibetans speak Standard
Tibetan (a Tibeto-Burman branch of the same
Sino-Tibetan family as Mandarin). Korean and
Japanese are each their own language family.
The non-religious/atheistic aspect of East Asia
comes from the communist influence. Latin for
China is “Sino.”
9. SOUTHEAST ASIA
Language—Southeast Asian Family
(Austronesian, Austro-Asiatic and Tai
Kadai)
Religion—Buddhist and Muslim
Notes—the exception is the Philippines.
It was colonized by Spain, is named after
King Philip of Spain, and is Catholic. Its
culture is fragmented, as would be
expected in a country comprised of many
islands (7,107).
10. SOUTH ASIA
Language—Indic (Latin for India is Indo)
Religion—Hindu and Islam
Notes—The exception is that Buddhists
are in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan
11. MIDDLE EAST
Language—Arabic (and Arabic is the Lingua
Franca in the area, even in countries where
Arabic is not the main language)
Religion—Islam
Notes—Big exceptions: Central Asia’s
language is from the Altaic Family, Iran’s
language family (Farsi, or Persian) is IndoEuropean and Israel’s language is Hebrew
(same Afro-Asiatic family as Arabic). Also, the
religion in Israel is Judaism, not Islam.