Lesson 5

Question 1

Cultural Ecology

Answer 1

Study of how people interact with the environment

Question 2

Environmental Determinism

Answer 2

(Incorrect) theory that the development of human society is controlled by the environment (completely)

Question 3

Who came up with the idea of environmental determinism?

Answer 3

The Greeks

Question 4

How was the theory of environmental determinism used to promote European superiority?

Answer 4

By suggesting that European cultures were “more advanced” because of their “better” location, and therefore “had to colonize less advanced cultures”

Question 5

Theoretically, the perfect society, based on environmental determinism, would be build in a place that avoids all of the “5 Too’s” -

Answer 5

Too cold
Too hot
Too wet
Too dry
To mountainy

Question 6

Possibilism

Answer 6

The idea that humans can use creativity to overcome challenges set by the natural environment

Question 7

What are the two main theories associated with Cultural Ecology?

Answer 7

Environmental Determinism
Possibilism

Question 8

Defying environmental determinism, how do many societies based in rocky areas create room for farming/development?

Answer 8

Building terraces

Question 9

What is an example of how environmental determinism can be accurate?

Answer 9

Countries further away from the equator are often more developed

Question 10

What is the overall message from lesson 5?

Answer 10

The environment places limit on, but does not control, the development of human society