[originaltext] Culture is a very broad term used to describe the arts, the b

Culture is a very broad term used to describe the arts, the beliefs, the values, the traditions, the customs, and the institutions that are considered to be characteristic of a community, a people, a region, or a nation. Culture also includes the languages and dialects that people use to express their feelings and to communicate with each other.
    Although many cultures in the world have remained isolated for centuries, commerce and trade have often been source of all sorts of cultural exchanges, ranging from foods to tools.  Chinese tea and other inventions reached Europe thanks to the Silk Route, for example. However, cultural exchanges have not always been fair or balanced. Throughout history, wars and political decisions have destroyed cultures and forced people to adopt the language and the customs of the dominant civilization.
    It is often assumed that if a culture is technologically advanced, it must be superior or that if a culture is young it must be inferior. Every one trends to make Value judgments about other cultures. Finding fault with or making fun of other customs and beliefs is often merely a way of supporting our complacency or our pride. It is certainly much easier to learn about other cultures if one approaches them with an open mind and if one respects differences rather than criticizing them. Often something that appears strange or unusual in another culture is in fact very logical and part of a deeply rooted tradition. What might seem rude in one culture might seem perfectly normal and acceptable in another culture.