Final answer:
The 'cultural hearth' is the term used to describe the major site of innovation and cultural diffusion. It is the origin point from which cultural traits are developed and disseminate to other areas. The process of cultural diffusion intensifies with technological advancements and contributes to global interconnectedness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major site of innovation and cultural diffusion is commonly referred to as a cultural hearth. This is an area where cultural traits develop and from which the ideas, materials, and technologies spread out to other cultures. It is essentially the birthplace of certain cultural practices and innovations.
For example, ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, the Nile River Valley, and the Indus River Valley are considered to be some of the world's original cultural hearths. They have greatly contributed to the way their innovations, like writing systems and agricultural practices, have spread globally. This diffusion has been greatly accelerated in the modern era by global interconnectedness, facilitated by advancements in transport and communication technologies.
Understanding how the movement of people, the spread of cultures, and technological innovations have contributed to global interconnectedness can be seen through examples such as the widespread use of social media which allows for rapid information sharing across the globe.
The First Law of Geography relates to the concept of diffusion, indicating that everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things. As such, ideas and innovations are more likely to spread to nearby places before reaching distant ones.