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Importance of human geography in the contemporary world
Development of human geography
How can geography affect the development of a civilization
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The modern world is separated into the wealthy and those in poverty. According to the theory of Geographic Luck, geography is the main determinant in a civilization’s success. Jared Diamond is correct on his theory about how luck affects human power,wealth, and strength, in that luck depends on where you are located affects what grows or lives in that area. Specifically, geography luck affects what cereal crops are able to grow successfully and sustain life, large domesticable mammals that provide labor, and a shared latitude allows the diffusion of agriculture.
For example, wheat, corn, sorghum, and rice were all main crops that have a large impact on human life. These crops only grow in certain locations successfully sutch as the tropical conditions of West Africa are great for sorghum. Sorghum is an easy to grow crop due to its ability to adapt to drought, flood and poor soil. Wheat originates in Western Asia is designed to thrive in temperate climates like in the Middle East, the Americas,
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Out of all of the 14 domesticated animals 13 come from Asia while only one comes from South America. The reason for this is because in Asia animals did not have to worry about predators like in Africa or Australia. This made the animals calmer and easier to domesticate. Zebras are an example of an animal that has been unable to be domesticated due to the fact that it is too skittish. Goats which are superior in cold and rough climates are used for milk, wool, and leather. Cattle are large and docile animals which are used for labor, meat, clothes, shelter, and milk are one of the most versitile of all domesticated animals on Earth. Horses were key for their strength to pull plows, vehicles, and carry humans. The location of these animals supports James Diamond’s theory because certain animals came from certain parts of the worlds such as
Agriculture plays an enormous part in having a functioning society. The farming fields in the
One of the most successfully crops was traded from the Americas to Europe. Once corn arrived in Europe it was used as animal fodder, but the value of corn as human food proved itself. Corn has been one of the stimulants to population growth in the ‘old’ world. It helped to improve diets by providing much needed nutrition and calories.
Though it is very convincing, I do not fully agree with this concept. I agree that being located in a good geographical location enables a civilization to gain the upper hand early on, but I disagree that without good geography, a civilization will not be able to reach prosperity. My argument parallels James A. Robinson and Daron Acemoğlu’s argument made in Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty. They used the example of Nogales, a city that is divided into two, with the northern half in the United States that enjoys a flourishing and safe life, while the southern half in Mexico and struggles to maintain a good living standard. This city has the exact same geographical conditions, and yet, the welfare varies drastically. The authors explain since the northern part of the city is in the United States, it has the access to the economic institutions, technology, and the government of the United States. In contrast, the southern part of the city suffers due to the corruption, disorder, and poor government system that is of Mexico. The point Robinson and Acemoğlu try to make with the example of Nogales, which I am in concurrence with, is that since it was technological development that gave North America the step up in the modern era, it doesn’t fully explain why Latin America, who
Domesticated animals were a way of life to the Europeans. As well as meat, animals could be used for their milk, ...
Colonization of the Americas gave rise to the finding of new crops. Crops such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton, these labor-intensive crops were in high demand. These crops required an enormous
It is important for people to understand and know what went on in all time periods and how one simple animal cause be the one thing that gets you by each day or how evolving to something greater can either be successful or a disaster depending on where anyone is located. Jared Diamond allowed us to understand how guns, germs and steel helped countries not be so isolated and be open to new technology that helped them prosper to something bigger than what they had. To conclude many nations use the three theories that jared diamond shares so that countries could prosper to something bigger than what they had hence, they also used it to conquer other civilizations so they could gain as much power as they could. To sum up Jared Diamond saw geography more than a way to expand from either east to west but a way to use what they had or what others brought so that they can gain more power while using the theories guns, germs, and steel
A person’s location can influence what they see, how they see it, and therefore what they know. Knowledge of the world is subjective and particular in nature. Sociological variables including class, status, ethnicity, gender, religion, region, and education can impact their views and understanding of the world. According to Karl Marx, a renowned theorist, a major consequence of Capitalism was poverty due to inequality or uneven division of wealth and income. His personal location will result in one of two conclusions based on how the social forces impacted him. Marx’s location may have acted as a blinder in a way, creating a bias. He may think he understands the world, but he really does not in the end. Or, his location could have actually
Therefore, it became necessary to bring animals permanently to their settlements, although in many cases there was a distinction between relatively sedentary farmers and nomadic herders. The animals' size, temperament, diet, mating patterns, and life span were factors in the desire and success in domesticating animals. Animals that provided milk, such as cows and goats, offered a source of protein that was renewable and therefore quite valuable. The animal’s ability as a worker, as well as a food source, also had to be taken into account. Besides being a direct source of food, certain animals could provide leather, wool, hides, and fertilizer. Some of the earliest domesticated animals included dogs sheep, goats, cows, and
The answer, he says, is partially environmental. Societies in robust and fertile environments, he claims, are more likely to prosper than those in dry, cold, or otherwise difficult surroundings. But a good environment does not guarantee success, nor does a poor one dictate failure. He contends that the other half of the answer has to do with how a society responds to problems. Societies in Germany, Japan, and New Guinea, for instance, combatted deforestation through systematic efforts to restore the natural environment while the Mayans, made no such effort, and, consequently,
India and China however, were landlocked and were by far the greatest industrial powers in the world till the Industrial revolution. Technology, not geography, helped temperate agriculture and industry to zoom ahead. One way a country overcomes geographical isolation is to improve its transportation infrastructure. Better roads, ports, paths, and other modes of transport provide access to world markets. But a country can only derive full benefits from these investments against a backdrop of good trade and macroeconomic policies. Consequently this leads to the belief that people again control the thought of their own geography.
One of the impacts of climate change is that as the temperatures in cooler parts of the world change and become warmer, this will allow that place to be more habitable to other different types of food crops, thus expanding the area in which these crops can be grown. For example, less frequent freezes will allow crops like citrus to be planted and gro...
Domestication is a process in which wild species are removed their natural habitat and are acclimatised to surviving and breeding in captive. Animals are domesticated for purposes which, in general, are designed to be beneficial to humans. These reasons commonly include labour, food sources and companionship. Over generations, domestication results in genetic and physiological changes in the organism (Wilson,. Mammal Species of the World (3rd Ed.). Baltimore).
Throughout the history of the human race there have been a great number of crops that were discovered, planted, and over time domesticated. Wheat in the Middle East, rice in Asia, and rye in Eastern Europe are all some of today’s staple crops that feed millions every day. Crops like these make up over 50% of the world’s total food supply. However, the third most eaten crop in the world is maize, or corn, which provides 21% of human nutrition. Today maize feeds millions across the world, but its history is different from the others.
Being lucky or unlucky can change and alter one’s life in different ways. There are more opportunities to flourish within countries that are better developed compared to a less developed one. Due to the luck of being born in a country that is more developed an individual is able to better place themselves in situations that can positively alter their lives. Impoverished individuals whom are born in a country that is less developed, such as Venezuela and the Philippines, do not get the opportunity to chase their dreams. There are not enough teachers and funding to receive a proper education. The access to food in impoverished countries is limited because of wealth indifferences within the economy. The ability to obtain a visa or citizenship in a country that is more stabilized can be a difficult task. Even when individuals obtain a visa or citizenship, it can be difficult for them to get adapted to the new country due to language barriers and customs. As a result, simply being born in another country compared to another can significantly change the way someone can live his or her life...
...o climate change. All of these have caused an impact on the ability to produce crops and grow agriculturally. Climate change has been increasing the number of droughts, floods, health hazards of employees, natural disasters, and sea level elevations. All of these put in danger the crop productivity resulting in famines and food price increments. Climate change affects agriculture in every country differently due to its location. Countries such as Canada and Russia are being affected positively by climate change since it has enabled the country to prosper agriculturally. Other countries cannot handle drastic temperature changes, such as Sudan and Bangladesh, whose agricultural growth has been affected negatively by the climatic changes. Agriculture is fundamental in a country, creating a balance between agriculture and the increasing climatic changes would be ideal.