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Hearth Areas
A term used to describe the origin of an idea or innovation and the following diffusion from the hearth to other areas. While diffusion from the hearth to other regions facilitates the spread of different cultures, values, and traditions, cultural obstacles can also impede the process of diffusion. Hearth areas are not just an important factor in acculturation, but they also play a key role in the larger concept of globalization, where the spread of ideas and innovations occurs globally. Globalization, while praised and critiqued on different fronts, is responsible for the interconnectivity of markets, politics, and cultures worldwide.