What defines cultural regions?

Cultural regions are defined primarily by shared human characteristics such as language, religion, customs, and social practices among groups of people. These shared traits create a cohesive identity within a specific area, allowing for a community's cultural expression to flourish. Cultural regions are not strictly about geographical boundaries, as they can extend beyond physical features like mountains or rivers. They also do not necessarily correlate with economic activities or political borders, as these factors can change without altering the underlying cultural connections among the people. Instead, the essence of a cultural region lies in the shared traditions and societal norms that unite individuals within a population, regardless of their geographical or political situations. This nuanced understanding illustrates why shared human characteristics are the defining elements of cultural regions.