Culture can be defined as the shared patterns of behavior and interactions that develop over time within groups and are passed down through socialization. The document then provides brief overviews of the main characteristics of several major cultures, including Western culture which developed from Greco-Roman traditions and Christianity, Eastern culture which was influenced by religions and rice cultivation, Latin culture which spread through Spanish and Portuguese languages, Middle Eastern culture which is linked by Arabic language and the major religions that originated there, and African culture which is extremely diverse with many ethnic groups and was influenced by migration patterns across the continent.