Human Environment Interaction Ch. 5.3

Adapting to our Surroundings

Change O Before humans, the only forces that altered the landforms were natural. O When the first settlers arrived thousands of years ago, everything changed.

Settlement O The first inhabitants were known as nomads. O A nomad is a person who moves from place to place. O Most archaeologists believe the first settlers to America crossed over Beringia.

Beringia O A land bridge connecting Siberia and Alaska

Native Americans O The first settlers on the Americas O They adjusted to their surroundings O They knew how to adapt to their environment in order to survive

Agriculture O Nomadic settlements became permanent when agriculture began developing O Hunting and gathering was no longer the primary means of providing nutrition O People began changing the land to meet their needs

Agriculture O The first crops in America included corn, beans, and squash O Today these are staples around the world

Cities O Cities developed over time O Originally, it was crucial for early settlement cities to be near a water source O Today, we have many cities making great impacts in North America and around the world

Montreal O Canada’s second largest city O The location, where the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers meet made it an ideal spot for early settlers O To survive the severe winters, the people stayed primarily inside and underground O Large areas of Montreal have been developed underground for this reason

Montreal

Los Angeles O Los Angeles is the second most populated city in the USA O Rapid population of this ideal area brought problems O We have found a way to adapt to problems like pollution, limited water supply, and construction threatened by earthquakes

Los Angeles

Transportation O Along with building cities, creating new methods of transportation is a way humans have interacted with the environment O Despite harsh conditions, European settlers crossed the huge distances to reach the west coast O The Oregon Trail is just one of a variety of paths crossed to expand westward

Manifest Destiny O the widely held belief in the United States that American settlers were destined to expand throughout the continent

Transportation O The first transcontinental railroad was completed in O A trans-Canada railroad, from Montreal to British Columbia was completed in O These railways promoted economic development O The USA has the world’s largest railway system

Transportation O After railroads, people began building highways O The United States has about 4 million miles of roads