Geographic and Environmental Factors Essays

Geographic and Environmental Factors Essays Geographic and Environmental Factors Paper Geographic and Environmental Factors Paper The early colonists had trouble passing over the Appalachian Mountains due to the extremely difficult environmental conditions that these mountains posed. The early colonists had to endure harsh and brutal surroundings (that they often didnt survive) in order to be able to reach the other side. The Appalachian chain is a barrier to east-west travel as it forms a series of alternating rigidness and oriented in opposition to any road running east-west (Wisped, 2013). This cross- mountain trek was imperative in order for early settlers to migrate westward and thus expand the united States. As a consequence of the serve conditions, the Appalachian Mountains kept westward expansion from occurring at a faster pace and is actually one of the reasons why colonies developed more rapidly in the east while the west came to be seen as a hostile territory by most colonists. This all changed with the discovery of Cumberland Gap. On the boards of the U. S. States Kentucky[->2], and Virginia[->3] is Cumberland Gap which is a pass through the Appalachian Mountains. : The moment colonists discovered the Cumberland Gap turned out to be an essential time in American history. With the formation of the United States, an important first phase of westward expansion in the late 18th century and early 19th century consisted of the migration of European-descended settlers westward across the mountains into the Ohio Valley through the Cumberland Gap and other mountain passes (Wisped, 2013). Even though the fact that the Cumberland Gap was guarded by Native American tribes when it was first discovered did not deter the westward bound migrants. This pass through the Appalachian Mountains was nonetheless proof that expansion westward was to as difficult as it had been previously and then the floodgates were opened to the migration of the colonists. It is estimated that between 200,000 and 300,000 migrants passed through the gap on their way into Kentucky[->4] and the Ohio before 1 810 (Wisped, 2013). The second environmental or physical geographic factors that contributed to the development or expansion of the United States were the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Although many colonists wanted to go farther west, after finally making it to the other side of the Appalachian Mountains, in order to reach he Pacific Coast, some realized that the mid-west region of the United States represented an intriguing location. The area consisted of valuable nutrient rich lands that could be used in growing large areas of grain and raising of livestock. Concomitantly, colonists were impressed with the fact that they could also utilize the Mississippi and Ohio rivers for transportation fifths grown agriculture, for transportation of people, and for food for their tables. The colonists took into account that they could provide basic necessities for numerous individuals and multiple usages by monopolizing the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. By the sass, cotton, grain, pork, and other agricultural products floated down the Mississippi River to the citys docks. The rise of the steamboat brought trade upriver and opened the Midwest to settlers and goods (River Towns, River Networks, 2012). Settlers thus expanded long these rivers and built settlements. The Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, and other rivers knit together the American nation over the course of a century. In an era before widespread highways and railroads, the farms and industries of the Midwest poured their goods downriver to markets around the world (River Towns, River Networks, 2012). This made it possible for the colonies to experience rapid expansion westward and for colonists to significantly contribute to the development and expansion of the Un tied States. The geographical and environmental factors such as the Appalachian Mountains with its Cumberland Gap and factors such as the Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois rivers have significantly contributed to the development and expansion of the United States. The geographical features of the Appalachian are extremely important because of the literal barrier and roadblock that these mountains originally posed to be and then once Cumberland Gap was discovered it literally opened a floodgate to the westward expansion of America. The major river systems of the Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois rivers made possible the growth, development, and facilitated the explanation of the U. S. Because, People followed waterways, from canals to great rivers, to build businesses, communities, and new lives (River Towns, River Networks, 201 2) The most significant environmental or physical geographic factors that contributed to the development of the history and culture of the, Mesopotamia civilization is inextricably connected to the ebb and flow of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Krebs, 2006). History shows that a citys or a civilizations geographic position always plays an important part in its ability to thrive and grow. The area of Mesopotamia neighboring the Euphrates and Tigris rivers provided people with the opportunity to settle in the territory and to build one of the most complex civilizations that existed until that time. In fact, the Mesopotamia civilization is responsible for establishing, developing, and implementing such things as higher social thinking, original agricultural technological methods, and development. This society is responsible and known as the birthplace of civilization; the original place for such things as religion, art, literature, science judicial order, agriculture and so much more. The most significant environmental and physical geographic factors that contributed to the development of the civilization of Mesopotamia were the Tigris-Euphrates river system. Because of its proximity and placement near these rivers, the society developed and grew primarily into a thriving agricultural society. As the muddy Tigris-?Euphrates river system flooded and receded, their silt built a plain with rich soil, ideal for agriculture in which this society of Mesopotamia flourished and capitalized on. Agriculture, thanks to the construction of irrigation ditches, became the primary method of subsistence (for Mesopotamia). Farming was further simplified by the introduction of the plow (Krebs, 2006). Because the rivers provided the environment ideal for agriculture, the Mesopotamia society developed into a rich, prosperous, and influential civilization that passed these developments on to other societys and groups of people. As humans, We are shaped by the world around us. The food we eat, the clothes we wear, even the languages we speak all have a connection to the geography of the world around us. From the first civilizations and cultures throughout history to our world today, people and their environments form complex relationships that can have a profound influence on every aspect of our lives (Geography and Development: Diffusion of Human Societies, 2006-2012). Some of the most important tools in history were first developed in Mesopotamia. The Sumerians were the civilization of people who lived in ancient Mesopotamia and developed tools for a variety of projects, from farming to fighting to transportation (Gabriel, 1999-2013). Through cultural diffusion over time these tools, such as the plow, and other agricultural concepts from the Mesopotamia society reached other regions. An area that these agricultural tools migrated to was the Nile River area (later known as Egypt) by migrations f people through different methods like trade routes and other cultural diffusion methods. Early tribal peoples migrated to the Nile River where they developed a settled agricultural economy and more centralized society (Egypt, 2012). The evolution of these concepts, tools, and knowledge were a significant to the development and growth of, first, the Mesopotamia society and then later the Nile River regions and societies. From there the agricultural concepts and ideas were then carried, spread, and diffused throughout the world.