The beginning of all human societies and the development of their communities, traditions, technologies, and cultures were influenced by the environment in which they lived.
It is helpful for students to begin any study of people and cultures with an understanding of their location and environment. It gives students a foundation and a window into why tools and customs developed the way they did. Geography is defined as “the study of places and the relationships between people and their environments.” Therefore, to understand human histories is to understand a peoples' connection to their environments. Geography is not just the simple memorization of place names and coordinates, it is a pathway to understanding our shared human history.
When studying the history of North America, students should begin to explore its physical features and climate as well as its first peoples. About 30,000 years ago, North America looked much like it does today, with a narrow strip of ocean, the Bering Sea, separating it from Asia. There were no people living in North America at the time. During the last Ice Age, about 15,000 years ago, sea levels dropped, exposing a land bridge, Beringia, between North America and Asia. Large game animals like bison and mammoth crossed this land bridge and were followed by Asian hunters. People migrated to different regions over thousands of years, such that by 1500 BCE, about 15-20 million people lived in North America!
The landscape of North America varies greatly from its frigid arctic tundra in the north to its swampy, humid everglades in the southeast; from the dry deserts of the southwest to the lush forests of the eastern woodlands. How did the environments in which people lived affect the development of their cultures and technologies? Students can learn much about the similarities and differences in people all around the world when they explore the opportunities and challenges present in their environments. Understanding the physical geography of an area gives students the foundation for understanding an area's human geography.
The Indigenous peoples of North America adapted to their homelands with ingenious ways of using natural resources to build shelter, find food, make clothing, and develop complex cultures, traditions, arts, and religions that are rooted in harmony with the land. By looking at history through a “geographic perspective”, students gain a deeper understanding of how people met the challenges posed by the land with innovative solutions. How did people in the Arctic meet their needs of food, clothing, and shelter when their environment was so forbidding? How did adaptations differ with people in the warm Caribbean? How was it the same? A helpful tool is to have students organize their research into a graphic organizer such as a spider map. The graphic organizer can include the following:
Once students begin to look for these, they'll notice that the categories listed above influence the development of the following:
By studying geography and people in this way, students can make sense of the different cultures present throughout the globe. Students can critically examine how the availability of natural resources and the environment contribute to the uniqueness of a culture. Fostering a greater understanding of the differences and, just as importantly, the similarities between cultures both past and present will help students become empathetic global citizens. Students will understand that throughout history, most human beings desired similar things: to feel a sense of belonging, to have their basic needs met, to communicate with others, to create, to problem solve, and to make a better future for their children.
Check out these geography activities from our guides on Ancient Mesopotamia, First Nations of the Northwest Coast, and Ancient China.
Begin by studying the physical features and climate of a region. Understand how the geography of an area, including its landforms, bodies of water, and climate, influenced the development of human societies.
Research the indigenous peoples of a specific region and their adaptation to their homelands. Learn about their innovative ways of utilizing natural resources for shelter, food, clothing, and cultural practices. Analyze how their cultures and technologies were shaped by the environment.
Organize research findings using a graphic organizer, such as a spider map. Include key categories such as place or location, environment, natural resources, basic needs, technologies, and religion, art, and cultural traditions. Fill in information about each category based on the specific region being studied.
Examine how the environment influenced the development of basic needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing. Consider the impact of climate on clothing and the availability of resources on shelter construction. Evaluate the role of natural resources in meeting these needs.
Investigate how people used natural resources to create technologies and solve challenges posed by their environment. Explore transportation methods, water management systems, and other innovations that emerged from environmental conditions.
Examine the beliefs, art, and cultural traditions of the people in the region. Analyze how their environment may have shaped their religious beliefs and influenced their artistic expressions. Investigate social structures, roles within society, and community decision-making processes.
Geography is a multidisciplinary field that involves the study of the physical and human features of the Earth's surface, including its landscapes, climates, ecosystems, natural resources, cultures, societies, and economies.
Studying geography is of utmost importance as it provides students with a strong foundation and an insight into how tools and customs have developed over time. It offers us a unique perspective on our shared human history and helps us comprehend the diverse ways in which humans interact with their environment and adapt to their surroundings. By studying geography, we can understand how the natural world has influenced the evolution of cultures, societies, and civilizations throughout history.
A helpful tool is to have students organize their research into a graphic organizer such as a spider map, which includes information on place or location, environment, natural resources, basic needs, technologies, religion, art, and cultural traditions, and people.
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