Significant environmental/geographic factors that contributed to the development or expansion of the United States
The two environment/geographic factors that I consider most significant to the development and expansion of the United States include the vast fertile plains of the Mid-West Region and the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. The Mid-West Region, which is also referred to as the ‘land of farms’ is considered as one of the most important farming areas in the United States. This region is endowed with conducive climate and natural resources, which are important for the economy of the region. Along with farming, the area harbors a prosperous manufacturing industry. The Mississippi and Ohio rivers are a home to several towns and manufacturing plants, which contributes to economic development of the region (Duiker& Spielvogel, 2010).
The enormous fertile plains of the Mid-West Region attracted large number of farmers to the region from all over the world who had interest in farming. The resulting large-scale farming in the region led to emergence and growth of large manufacturing industry to process the produce from the farms. The increasing population provided source of labor to the growing manufacturing plants in the region. The region had suitable climate and natural resources that are important to economic development. The climatic condition of the region is suitable for farming, with hot summers found in the Central and Great Plains, which gives farmers long growing seasons. The region also has deep fertile soil, with valuable nutrients, which attracted early immigrants and pioneers into the area to farm.
The Mississippi river is a source of numerous systems of inland waterways, which connects the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway. It is also connected to the navigable Ohio and Missouri rivers, and the Illinois Waterway. The river’s minimum channel accommodates ocean vessels to reach Louisiana, Baton Rouge, and big barges to navigate as far as St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Mesopotamia
The word derives its meaning from Greek meaning ‘between rivers’. The geography of each area affected how people lived and developed. The Southern part was endowed with wide, flat, marshy areas, and barren plains, which led to development of cities along the rivers. Conversely, the Northern part is made up of plains and hills, and fertile because of seasonal rains and rivers flowing from the hills. People settling in the area farmed the lands and used metals, timber and stones from the mountains nearby.
Study of the southern Mesopotamia shows the formation of literacy, state societies and urbanization. The transformation towards hierarchical organization is evidenced through formation of monumental architectures, large cities, settlement hierarchy, and long-distance exchange. The massive urbanization in the south resulted into widespread distribution of culture of materialism manifested through ceramic, administrative technology, and architecture.
Lack for adequate resource from both parties drove Mesopotamia and Egypt to create the first diffusion in history. Mesopotamia had rich agricultural potential compared to Egypt, which faced irregular floods making agriculture difficult to accomplish without irrigation. On the other hand, Mesopotamia lacked stones, metals and valuable minerals. In an attempt to lead sedentary lifestyles, both regions established trade links to gains necessities they lacked. Mesopotamia traded surplus food for precious metals and tools (Davies, 2006). However, each region developed their own religion, law, and government. There are no records indicating that one borrowed from the other since each region represented a unique civilization in its area. It is however evident that Egypt adopted Islamic religion decades later.
References:
Duiker, J.W., & Spielvogel, J.J. (2010). The essential world history. Connecticut: Cengage Learning
Davies, E.J. (2006). The United States in world history. NY: Taylor & Francis.
