Editing Cultural diffusion (section)

{{Short description|Archaeological theory}}
{{Anthropology}}
In [[cultural anthropology]] and [[cultural geography]], '''cultural diffusion''', as conceptualized by [[Leo Frobenius]] in his 1897/98 publication ''Der westafrikanische [[Kulturkreis]]'', is the spread of [[culture|cultural]] items—such as [[idea]]s, [[fashion|style]]s, religions, [[technology|technologies]], [[contact linguistics|languages]]—between individuals, whether within a single culture or from one culture to another. It is distinct from the [[diffusion of innovations]] within a specific culture. Examples of diffusion include the spread of the [[war chariot]] and iron [[smelting]] in ancient times, and the use of [[automobile]]s and Western [[business suit]]s in the 20th century.