In addition, stratification contributes to cultural determinism, which again, alludes to when a person's position or class within a stratified society determines their culture, what kind of labor they will have the opportunity to have, what quality of education they may have access to, and other aspects (or limitations) of a particular culture. When social stratification becomes too extreme and tensions within a culture rise too high, there is a distinct possibility for cultural differentiation. This occurs in societies where the tensions and imbalances are apparent and transparent. In many countries, such as the United States, the media helps to minimize class imbalances. The media is often used as an institution that will communicate and distribute the dominant ideology and specific hegemony. Hegemony is a form of social control and ideology is the greater societal structure of which hegemony is a tool or strategy. Hegemony may is often skewed or distorted and perpetuates imbalances/stratifications, such as sexism, ageism, and racism.

Non-cultural factors such as geography and population additionally affect the historical development of cultures. Cultures with a large number of people are able to fight off invaders or those who would try conquer or imperialize them. Conversely, a culture with large numbers,...

As aforementioned, in the earliest human organized cultures, the quality of the land and the nature of the landscape were some of the most critical factors to the survival and historical development of a culture. Humans need an ample food and water supply in order to thrive. Additionally, geographic elements influence rituals such as celebrations of holidays or equinoxes; may influence the belief system such as gods or mythology, as well as influence the kind of industry and labor performed in the area where the culture is located. A culture surrounded by many forms of rocks or mountains may have blacksmiths and ironworkers; a culture with many plants and flowers may thrive in medicine and biology.
The historical development of a culture is in a state of flux. Factors that influence culture change over time. The factors may increase or decrease, or change in intensity depending on factors working within one culture and the neighboring cultures. These factors may be a result of natural circumstances or as a result of human conflict.