The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines culture as "the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a society, group, a particular place or time” (Merriam-Webster, Culture). There are many aspects to every culture; Five important aspects to consider when defining a culture include language, religion, government, tradition and customs. The first three aspects are relatively self-explanatory, but the last two seem somewhat similar at first glance. Throughout this cultural awareness essay, we will define the meaning of tradition by including historical aspects, and customs as more contemporary. The country of Israel, during its short history, has experienced many major conflicts and significant cultural issues to deal with. Before discussing the history and culture of Israel, it would be helpful to understand the geography and terrain of the country. Although Israel is a relatively small country (8,357 square miles), there are four geographic regions: the Mediterranean coastal plain, the northern and central mountainous regions of Israel, the Great Rift Valley, and the Negev. There are mountains, valleys, coastal areas, lakes, the Jordan River and much more, creating a varied landscape with many different microclimates and unique problems created by each type of terrain (Encyclopedia Britannica, “Israel "). Israel's Population Life is overwhelming in urban centers, less than a tenth of the country's total population lives in rural areas, and more than half of the country's population lives in Tel Aviv's two coastal metropolitan areas. -Yafo and Haifa. The country is currently working to reduce overpopulation in these regions by helping to develop new cities in the north and south and pushing recent immigrants to move to...... middle of paper ......n technological and industrial innovation. Works Cited “About Israel: History”. Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Web. March 21, 2014. http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/AboutIsrael/History/Pages/default.aspx. “About Israel: State: Facts about Israel: The State. » Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Web. March 21, 2014. http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/AboutIsrael/State/Pages/The%20State.aspx. “Culture”. Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, nd Web. March 21, 2014. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture. "Israel." British Encyclopedia. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. EncyclopædiaBritannica Inc., 2014. Web. March 21, 2014. http://www.britannica.com/EBchceked/topic/296740/Israel. “Land of Israel”. Judaica Encyclopedia. Ed. Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik. 2nd ed. Vol. 10. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. 100. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Internet. March 21. 2014.