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The theory of environmental determinism is a geographical concept that helps to explain the effect of physical, geographical conditions on the human societies prevalent in the same region. Learn more about this concept through this ScienceStruck post.Ĭuriously enough man’s body and his mind appear to differ in their climatic adaptations. The devastating impact of hurricanes in the United States, tsunamis in Japan, and fire in the United States are but a few examples ( Figures 1.16 and 1.17).Environmental determinism is a theory put forth in the 19th century, that proposes that the geographical and physical attributes of an environment shape the development of the indigenous human societies. Even technological advanced societies, however, can still be tremendously affected by the environment and have little or no control over the power of nature. Although snow skiing in the Middle East may seem preposterous, plans are in place to build the longest indoor ski slope in the world in this city, where one ski slope already exists ( Figure 1.15).
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One excellent example of possibilism is found in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. The possibilities are greater, hence, the term possibilism. In the view of possibilism, people can adapt to their environmental conditions, despite the limitations they might pose, and if a society has better technology, the people are better able to adapt and develop their culture in a number of possible ways. to 1300 A.D., were ill-equipped to deal with drought, compared to those who inhabit the modern-day states of New Mexico and Arizona. The Anasazi, who are believed to have inhabited in the Southwestern U.S. The racist undertones of this sort of perspective is clear, but modern geographers still recognize the definitive impact of the environment on societies, as can be seen, for example, in the theorized demise of the Anasazi people in the American Southwest because of extended drought ( Figure 1.14). In contrast, Europeans, who lived in “stimulating” climates with a sharp change in seasons were more industrious and inventive. For example, environmental determinists in the 1920s thought that people who lived in the tropics were slothful and backward because finding food in the tropics was thought to be rather easy. Environmental determinism is the idea that the natural or physical environment shapes and creates cultures in other words, the environment essentially dictates culture. Two major perspectives on the humanenvironment relationship in the field of geography are environmental determinism, which has been largely rejected, and possibilism. The environment can significantly affect human activities, and vice versa, humans can shape and changethe Earth’s surface and its atmosphere. This example is but one instance of the relationship between humans and their environment. Because migration and transportation over mountain ranges can be limited, diffusion can be slowed or even stopped by these physical barriers. The process of spatial diffusion can be profoundly affected by the physical terrain, such as is the case with a mountain range.