Culture is generally referred to as a certain group's particular way of life. This includes the social meanings of various aspects of life such as race, ethnicity, values, languages, religions, and clothing styles.
Though many distinct cultures are prevalent around the world today, those that are the most dominant have origins in one of a few areas called "culture hearths." These are the heartlands of various cultures and, historically, there are seven main locations from which the most dominant cultural ideas have spread.