history 103 geographic determinism through the ages

Geographic Determinism: Geographic Determinism: The Shaping of Western The Shaping of Western

CivilizationCivilizationAaron HofferAaron Hoffer

Professor LaneProfessor LaneHistory 103History 103

December 1, 2008December 1, 2008

What is Geographic Determinism?What is Geographic Determinism?

• Proposed by Ellsworth Huntington, a geography professor at Yale

• As a theory: Holds that geographical conditions are the sole determinant of the philosophies and infrastructure of a civilization.

What is geographic Determinism? What is geographic Determinism? (cont’d)(cont’d)

• According to Hollingsworth, Geographic Determinism is “the process by which geologic structure, topographic form, and the present and past nature of the climate have shaped man's progress, moulded his history; and thus played an incalculable part in the development of a system of thought which could scarcely have arisen under any other physical circumstances.”

Thesis of PredispositionThesis of Predisposition

• Inherent in a region’s physical landscape is a harbinger of either a life of turbulence or contentment to its inhabitants. Much of civilization’s constituents: religion, structures, and legislature is dictated by geographic landscape. This Geographic Determinism is exemplified in the civilization couples of the Egyptians and Mesopotamians, Romans and Barbarians, as well as in the catastrophic events of the Late Middle Ages.

Egyptians vs. MesopotamiansEgyptians vs. MesopotamiansRiversRivers

• The Nile River– Highly consistent - flooded annually, depositing

sediment.• Flooding was so dependable that ceremony was held on day

of water level rise.– “With almost calendrical precision, the river began to rise in

southern Egypt in early July, and it reached flood stage in the vicinity of Aswan by mid-August. The flood then surged northward, getting to the northern end of the valley about four to six week[s] later.” (Postel)

• Minimal technological advancement was needed to control flow.

• Change was viewed as evil

The Nile RiverThe Nile River

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/willow/the-nile-river0.gif

Egyptians vs. MesopotamiansEgyptians vs. MesopotamiansRiversRivers

• The Water wheel– Despite little Egyptian

technological necessity, the people of the Nile utilized an early form of the water wheel to raise water past the level of the River for irrigation.

http://www.waterhistory.org/histories/nile/t1.html

Egyptians vs. MesopotamiansEgyptians vs. MesopotamiansRivers:Rivers:

• The Euphrates River – Volatile - susceptible to drought

• To control the erratic Euphrates river, Mesopotamians needed technology which was superior to that of the Egyptian people.

• Change was expected, yet was also dictated by evil supernatural forces.

Egypt vs. MesopotamiaEgypt vs. MesopotamiaReligionReligion

• Mesopotamian Religion– Like The Euphrates River, Gods were often

unpredictable in nature and chaos and evil were common themes.

• Ishtar, the goddess of love is a God full of jealousy, and bent on revenge

Egypt vs. MesopotamiaEgypt vs. MesopotamiaReligionReligion

• Egyptian Religion– The beneficent nature of the Nile River

facilitated a life of placidity for the Egyptian people which is evident in their religion.

• Afterlife was viewed as a truly heavenly place– Originally for the Pharaohs, the afterlife became

“democratized” to let all those who pass the test enter.

• Gods were as generous as the Nile– Anubis was viewed as an advocate in the afterlife

Rome vs. Germanic TribesRome vs. Germanic TribesSocietal FunctionSocietal Function

• Roman Lifestyle:– The Roman way of life very much followed the

spread out nature of the landscape.• Typical housing was isolated; stone structures

within villas.• Sedentary lifestyle was a result of geographic

isolation from others.– Architecture was stable and orderly to reflect stationary

nature.– Gave way to luxurious, orderly standard of living

• Ornate bath houses built around natural hot springs• Focus on literature


• Barbarian Lifestyle– A highly mobile people, Barbarians were very

much into communitarianism; living in fortified villages.

• Housing consisted of huts which were capable of relocation and not permanent (made of stone).

• Bathing took place in rivers and streams.


• Treatment of Women– Romans

• Women were relegated to the household, isolated from society.

• Considered separate from men and were not granted same rights.

– Barbarians• Women were seen as capable of men’s duties and

filled roles while men were away fighting, which was often.

The Late Middle AgesThe Late Middle AgesThe Spread of PlagueThe Spread of Plague

• Changing global climate conditions in 14th century– Plant growth was impeded by moist soil

• Weaker plants invited insects

• Smaller crop yield led to compromised immune systems


• Climate change in central Asia– Middle Eastern black rat replaced European

brown rat, much preferred to live among people.

• Migrated by ship during the Crusades as maritime transport was prevailing method of trade.


• “When the catastrophe had reached its climax the Messinians resolved to emigrate…The disease clung to the fugitives and accompanied them everywhere where they turned in search of help…Those who reached Catania breathed their last in the hospitals there. The terrified citizens would not permit the burying of fugitives from Messina within the town, and so they were all thrown into deep trenches outside the walls.”

-Michael Platiensis (1357), quoted in The Black Death


• As with the Mesopotamians, hedonism became a central ideology as life became chaotic and uncertain.

Works CitedWorks Cited• "The Huntington Collection." Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives. Yale University. 15 Nov. 2008

<http://http://www.library.yale.edu/judaica/exhibits/webarch/front/huntingtoncollection.html>.

• Knox, E.L. "The Black Death." Boise State History of Western Civilization. Boise State University. 22 Nov. 2008 <http://http://history.boisestate.edu/westciv/plague/07.shtml>.

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