Describe the three major factors that influence a country or region's culture.

The topography of the country has a profound influence on what types of people live in a certain place. For instance, many natural borders around a country make for a more insular culture than changing, indistinct borders, and life under a broiling sun creates different habits and values than life in a darker, colder environment. The country's history and certain events or systems of government that have affected the national memory also have an influence on the country's culture. The role of religion is important to understand the culture of the country. Religious values have shaped the Middle East, different Asian countries, and even the United States.