One important theme in AP World History is human environment interactions. Questions on the exam will ask you to explain how humans have changed natural systems. It will also ask you to identify how factors like weather and natural resources have shaped human societies.
I'm a licensed teacher and professional tutor with over ten years of experience in education. I've helped dozens of students improve their grades in their AP World History class. This article will cover different kinds of interactions between humans and natural systems. It will also show you relevant examples from AP World History. Read on for tips you can use to improve your grades today!
Note: This post is part of a series on historical themes covered in AP World History. A common way to remember these themes is using the acronym SPICE-T. You can learn more about the basics of historical themes and SPICE-T at this link.
Table of Contents
Human Environment Interaction
Definition
I use the "adapt to, modify, and depend" framework to think about different kinds of interactions we can have with the environment.
Depend
Humans depend on the environment to meet basic needs. We need plants and animals for food and shelter. We also depend on the environment for transportation, recreation, and sanitation. The winds in India change direction twice a year. For half the year they blow into India, and for the other half of the year, the winds blow out of India. These changes are predictable. Traders would time their voyages so they could take advantage of this change. Merchants depended on these winds.
Adapt
Humans adapt to their environment by changing their own behavior. This allows us to be successful in a wide variety of conditions. Traders relied on oases when they crossed the Sahara Desert. Oases were rare and the desert often lacked landmarks. As a result, traders had to change their behavior to survive. First, traders from West Africa often hired people from nomadic groups in the desert. Nomads knew how to navigate the desert. Traders also used camels instead of horses. These animals could travel long distances and needed less water than horses. People who adapted to circumstances they could not change were less likely to die.
Modify
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