Cultural Universals
Cultural universals are elements that are present in all known human cultures on Earth. Given their prevalence, worldbuilders will often turn to these anthropological aspects when designing fictional societies and use them as a kind of foundational checklist. While your own fictional culture may not have all these elements (and/or may include many more additional ones), they are well worth considering during the design of any fictional society.
Language
- Truth & Lies
- Antonyms
- Synonyms
- Color Terms (black as night, green with envy)
- Metaphors
- Symbolism
- Tabooed Language
- Proverbs
- Poetry
Society
- Personal Names
- Rules & Laws
- Sense of Morality
- Promises
- Community Roles
- Group Leaders
- Group Hierarchy
- Gender Roles
- Marriage
- Private Copulation
- Incest Taboo
- Etiquette
- Drug-Use
- Coalitions
- Inheritance
- Trade
- Cooperative Labor
- Redress of Wrongs
- Property
- Territoriality
- Gift Giving
- Medicine
Belief Systems
- Beliefs Associated with Death
- Beliefs Associated with Disease
- Beliefs Associated with Weather
- Beliefs Associated with Fortune/Misfortune
- Dream Interpretation
Art & Expression
- Art
- Music
- Dance
- Poetry
- Body Adornment
- Hairstyles
Games & Play
- Play
- Games
- Sports
- Toys
- Feasts
Rites & Rituals
- Death Rituals
- Rites of Passage
- Childbirth Customs
Technologies
- Shelter
- Control of Fire
- Tools
- Weapons
- Spear
- Containers
- Cooking
- Lever
- Rope
Miscellaneous
- Units of Time
- Units of Measurement
