2B2 - Environmental Impact on Human Civilization

Question 1

What is an agrarian society?

Answer 1

A society where cultivating the land is the primary source of wealth, focusing on agriculture and farming.

Question 2

Why did humans first start to settle down?

Answer 2

To switch to an agrarian society, which required good quality, fertile soil and a strong water supply.

Humans began living a settled life to avoid wandering for food. They began living near sources of food and water.

Question 3

Identify:

Natural resources were important for settlements?

Answer 3

• Wood (trees)
• Stone
• Metal ores
• Gold
• Silver
• Oil
• Coal

Question 4

Explain:

Push factors related to climate change

Answer 4

• Increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes, floods, and wildfires can devastate communities, prompting residents to flee for safety and stability.
• Prolonged droughts can lead to crop failures and diminished water supplies, making it difficult for people to sustain their livelihoods and forcing them to seek more hospitable areas.
• Coastal communities face the threat of flooding and loss of land due to rising sea levels, leading to displacement as residents move inland to escape inundation.

Question 5

What are some examples of rare and expensive natural resources that attract people to settle in an area?

Answer 5

• Gold
• Silver
• Oil

Question 6

Besides natural resources and money, what other factors can attract people to settle in a specific area?

Answer 6

• Warm, temperate, and pleasant climate.
• Feeling safe from natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanoes.

Question 7

What role did original agrarian societies play in determining where humans settled?

Answer 7

Chose settlement locations based on access to fertile land and water sources for agriculture. Many also chose rivers near coastal regions.

Question 8

Explain:

Modern factors related to where humans settle

Answer 8

• Access to jobs, industries, and commercial hubs drives people to settle in urban and economically developed areas.
• Favorable climate conditions, natural resources, and low disaster risk areas are preferred for comfort and safety.
• Access to healthcare, education, transportation, and reliable utilities such as water and electricity are key factors in determining settlement locations.

Question 9

What are 3 factors that influence agriculture productivity?

Answer 9

1. Soil
2. Water availability
3. Climate

Question 10

How does the environment impact human health?

Answer 10

Polluted air and water can lead to respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and waterborne infections.

Question 11

What is a way that natural habitats impact the spread of disease among humans?

Answer 11

Close proximity to tropical regions with mosquitoes can lead to outbreaks of diseases such as dengue fever and malaria, that infect humans through insect vectors.

Question 12

How does climate change impact human civilizations?

Answer 12

• Driven by human activities, it affects weather patterns, sea levels, and ecosystems.
• This leads to increased frequency of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, heatwaves, and floods.

Question 13

How does access to natural resources affect humanity?

Answer 13

Because natural resources are not evenly distributed
around the world, whoever controls a region with natural resources (like oil) are able to impact neighboring countries.

Question 14

Why are ecosystems important?

Answer 14

• Healthy ecosystems provide services such as pollination, water purification, and carbon capture.
• Loss of biodiversity can disrupt these services, affecting agriculture, clean water supply, and climate regulation.

Question 15

How does geography influence the growth of human civilization?

Answer 15

• Rivers, coasts, and fertile plains attract dense populations.
• Arid or mountainous regions often remain sparsely populated.

Question 16

What can cause loss of life, displacement, and economic damage, necessitating extensive recovery and adaptation efforts?

Answer 16

Natural disasters such as fires, floods, and tornadoes.

Question 17

What 3 factors help determine water availability for human civilizations?

Answer 17

1. Rainfall patterns.
2. River flows.
3. Groundwater levels.

Question 18

How does air quality play a factor in human interactions with the environment?

Answer 18

Pollution from industrial activities, transportation, and natural sources like wildfires impacts human health, causing respiratory problems and other diseases.

Question 19

How does the location of a human civilization impact its cultural environment?

Answer 19

• Coastal regions often have economies based on fishing and tourism.
• Mountainous areas might rely on mining and forestry.

Question 20

How do natural disasters impact migration of civilizations?

Answer 20

May cause people to leave their homelands and migrate to other countries.

Question 21

How did the Ice Age influence early human migration patterns?

Answer 21

Created land bridges due to lower sea levels.

Early humans used these to migrate to different continents, such as from Asia to North America via the Bering Land Bridge.

Question 22

In what ways did the environment shape the cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Arctic?

Answer 22

• Harsh environment led to the development of specialized skills and tools for hunting and fishing
• Clothing and shelter adapted to extreme cold, influencing their cultural practices and social organization.

Question 23

How did the deforestation of the Mediterranean region affect ancient civilizations?

Answer 23

Deforestation led to soil erosion, reduced agricultural productivity, and changes in climate, which contributed to the decline of ancient civilizations such as the Roman Empire.

Question 24

What role did the environment play in the rise and fall of the Mayan civilization?

Answer 24

The Mayan civilization thrived in the rainforests of Central America, but environmental challenges such as drought, deforestation, and soil depletion contributed to its decline.

Question 25

How did the Dust Bowl of the 1930s impact human settlement and agriculture in the United States?

Answer 25

Caused massive soil erosion and agricultural failure, leading to economic hardship, migration of farmers out of affected areas, and changes in land management practices.

Question 26

What environmental factors contributed to the rise of Mesopotamian civilization?

Answer 26

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers provided water for irrigation, fertile soil for agriculture, and a means of transportation, which supported the growth of Mesopotamian cities and trade.

Question 27

How did the Black Death change European society in the 14th century?

Answer 27

• The Black Death caused a massive population decline
• This led to labor shortages, economic disruption, social upheaval, and changes in land use and labor practices.

Question 28

What is the significance of the Amazon rainforest to global human civilization?

Answer 28

Plays a critical role in regulating the global climate, maintaining biodiversity, and providing resources such as medicinal plants.