What are some ways geography has shaped human history?

Answer 1

Greatly! All the first colonies formed by humans, and all the first civilizations in the Worlds history were founded near great rivers. Rivers provided water for drinking and irrigating fields, fish for food and great transportation methods. Sumer was founded between Euphrates and Tigris rivers, Egypt along Nile river, Indus culture around Indus and the first Chinese culture near the Yellow River.

Woods offered some protection against enemy tribes, people hunted in the woods and wood was used for building. So the civilization needed river very near, wood quite near and later a place for rock somewhere near as well, when they started to make constructs from stone. Some natural barriers have helped a civilizations greatly, since they blocked enemies away. Ancient Egypt prospered so well and long, since it has Mediterranean Sea in it's north and vast deserts everywhere else around it. No army can survive in a desert for long. The Alps mountains range protected early Roman Republic from Celts and Carthaginians (Hannibal lost great amount of soldiers while crossing the Alps). Later Roman Empire used Danube and Rhine rivers to protect their borders from Germanic barbarians as well as Atlas Mountains in Sahara to protect their southern boundaries from berbers.

Many nations and peoples from plain areas started to grow horses and become fearsome rider peoples, like Sarmatians, Scythians, Huns and Mongols. Huns and Mongols very almost able to conquer the whole Old World with their fast riding armies, but their empires collapsed after their charismatic leaders died.

The environment has always shaped humans and cultures around it, different kind of environment created very different cultures all around the World. Desert people are used to hot and riding camels for long distance to collect their food and water, steppe nomads ride horses and are constantly moving people, mountains created rough peoples, as well as arctic areas, people living in those are harsh and used to cold and get along with the little food they can get. Field people grow large crops and build huge cities near rivers, island people and costal people are good sailors and make their living at seas and ports.

Good environment is vital for a culture to succeed, even though humans can survive almost anywhere, there's a huge difference where can a great civilization take place.

Answer 2

Geography gives us important clues about the people and place that came before us.Like detectives, we can piece together a grat deal of information about ancient cultures by knowing where people lived and what the area was like........... :)

Answer 3

Geography has influenced where civilizations develop, from ancient river valleys to coastal regions. Physical barriers like mountains and deserts have hindered movement and invasions, shaping the growth of empires. Access to resources like water and fertile land has also been a key factor in determining the success of societies.