Environmental and Geographic Features free essay sample

Egypt has become one of the most populated countries in the Middle East. But, how did all of these people get there and why did they choose Egypt to settle? Early Egypt can thank it’s main river source, The Nile, for early human civilization. Without â€Å"The Gift of the Nile,† Egypt would not have been a desirable place for people to settle. Being that mostly hot, dry deserts surround Egypt, the Nile River provided a sufficient amount of water for irrigation of crops and transportation. According to Louis L. Orlin in the book, Life and Thought in the Ancient near East, the Nile River â€Å"is the main avenue of every habitable community† in Egypt (2010). One of the ways the Nile contributed to the development of early human civilizations in Egypt was the Nile’s gift of seasonal floods. Early societies in Egypt had to alter their lives in accordance to when the Nile River would have it’s floods. We will write a custom essay sample on Environmental and Geographic Features or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page These floods would occur from July-October. The waters of the Nile carried with them rich silt deposits that nurtured Egypt’s land and provided rich soil to produce an abundance of crops for food and trade. Being that the land was so fertile, early settlers had to embark on â€Å"three months of intensive agriculture work† to produce the large amount of food needed to survive (Orlin, 2010). These early settlers were so successful in cultivating and harvesting crops that Egyptian area became so densely inhabited. Not only did the Nile provide water for agriculture, it also served as a roadway for transportation. The Nile allowed this early human society to have communication with other countries and it also allowed them to be able to trade. B) Process of diffusion between early human societies using tea as an example. The process of diffusion deals with the spreading of an idea or good from one society to another. Tea, for example, started in China. It was believed to have started in China because that particular country had the ideal climate for tea leaves to be grown. Historians believed that the use of tea leaves for drinking purposes began in AD 350. However, it was not called tea, rather â€Å"kia. † It was a beverage that was created â€Å"from the leaves by boiling† (A Global History, Saberi, 2010). Back in this time, tea was only  drunk for medicinal purposes. By the conclusion of the 5th century, Chinese tea was being sold abroad and traded with Mongolian and Turkish merchants. China’s trade with tea dramatically increased during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Since China was making more money, they developed a new high-quality tea and it was now being drunk for more than medicinal purposes. People were enjoying tea as a â€Å"refreshing and stimulating beverage† (Saberi, 2010). Finally, tea was no longer constrained to only the Chinese. By the 8th century, tea was being traded to various places. Tea was a huge commodity in the trade industry and everyone wanted it. The Chinese poet, Lu Yu, wrote a book called â€Å"Ch’a Ching† about the many uses of tea and which tools to use for tea making. This book helped tea to flourish to different countries. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), teapots were created and tea was beginning to be traded with the West. Also, â€Å"tea houses† were created for people to relax and enjoy tea drinking. In the 17th century, tea made its way into France, but was only drunk by the royal and rich because of it’s high cost. British traders began to transport tea into Morocco in the 19th century. Here, they made their own take on the traditional Chinese green tea by adding mint and sugar to theirs to create spearmint like flavor. Today, tea is still enjoyed by many people. Many cultures still use tea for medicinal and therapeutic uses. Every country has it’s own way of enjoying tea and brewing it. No matter how an individual enjoys their cup, â€Å"tea is the universal drink of countless millions,† all thanks to Ancient China (Saberi, 2010). C) Two significant environmental/geographic factors that contributed to the development/expansion of the United States. One significant geographic factor that contributed to the development and expansion of the United States was the California Gold Rush in 1849. The two fundamental geographic features that aided in the encounter of the California Gold Rush were the large quantities of gold California produced on its grounds and the area’s very fertile land. In 1848, President James K. Polk confirmed that the abundance of gold being found in California was indeed true. As a result of the discovery of this large quantity of gold, population soared and major developments were made not only in California, but also all throughout the United States. Over 300,000, from all over the United States and other countries came to California in hopes to become rich from the gold. Gold mining became very desirable during this time. Being that gold was so easily within reach, California and the United States began to develop rapidly. In the book written by Stewart L. Udall and David Emmons, Rethinking the History of the Old West, it is stated that in an 1852 census, â€Å" California’s population had swelled to 223,856 from about 25,000 prior to the rush (2003). With this in mind, California officially became a state in 1850. Gold miners, who were originally farmers, were also drawn to California’s fruitful lands and began to expand their agriculture and use irrigation systems. California’s fertile land aided in additional expansion of the United States. One major technological advancement that came with the Gold Rush was the use of refrigerated train carts to carry produce and goods for trade. The California Gold Rush helped expand the United States and give people a new beginning. A second geographical feature that contributed to the expansion and development of the United States was the Mississippi River. Although the Native Americans had been using the Mississippi River for means of fishing, transport and irrigation, Christopher Columbus was credited with the first to have viewed the Mississippi River in 1842. Nicknamed the â€Å"Nile of North America,† the Mississippi River played a large role in the development of the United States, much like the Nile did for Ancient Egypt. The Mississippi river permitted entry to the Southeast from the Gulf Coast. The river was also extremely imperative in permitting the migration of the Northwest area of the United States. The Mississippi River greatly improved trading for the farmers in this area, as well. Being that the land near the Mississippi River was so fertile, it provided farmers with an abundance of agriculture. Once every three years the river would flood and provide the land with rich soil. It also allowed the farmers in this area to ship and transport large amounts of goods to the markets for trade. The Mississippi river is also responsible for making slave trade more accessible. Later, in the 1870s, the United States Government started to build â€Å"river control† to control the rivers floods from becoming destructive to the lands. Overall, the Mississippi River played a huge role in the expansion of agriculture, transportation and migration of the United States, much like the Nile did for Egypt.