Bio-diversity: The reason why different cultures advance at different rates.

 

Throughout human history, cultures have advanced at different rates on different continents. Regional differences regarding societal growth over the centuries have affected the global standing of cultures which have survived the passing of time. So what’s the reason behind these varying levels of advancement? Why were wealth and power ultimately allocated as they are, and where they are, rather than having been distributed in some other fashion? Let’s examine why humans have advanced at differing rates across the globe.

 

            Environmental conditions and the way people adapt to them is the most crucial factor in cultural development. A myriad of environmental conditions and tests have affected the inventiveness of growing societies. The following factors were key components that contributed to the inequality in the pattern of civilized advancement around the world.

 

            Climate played a vital role in the early days of global development. Significant differences in climates caused major alterations in the way different regions grew. For example, climate affected biodiversity in plants and animals. Some animals were suited for certain climates and others not. Similarly, certain species of plants could only grow in specific environments. Some plants were naturally programmed at a genetic level to respond to seasonal changes. Others would only grow in tropic zones. Plants and animals were vital for food production. Animals were vital for meat, milk, cheese and other sustenance, as well as for manure to use in farming. Plants and seeds were needed in agricultural societies. The availability of flora and fauna directly affected how a society fed itself. And generally, a society with more food to spare tended to be much larger than those that struggled to find food.

 

A further result of adaptation to climate is that seasonable variability poses more challenges to a growing society. Making clothes, building shelters and keeping warm during the winter encouraged human inventiveness.

 

            Geography is another important factor.  The shape of the terrain, for instance, was important in travel. Where there were flatlands or gentle slopes, traveling was easier. On the other hand, where you have valleys and mountains, travel was more difficult. These problems affected both trade and hunting. Of course, for a more military oriented mind, these geographical obstacles could be effective barriers against invasion or unwanted migrants.

 

            A further matter regarding geography is that variety of elevation leads to a diversity of plant life. Places with more diversity of terrain, such as those with mountains, deserts and valleys, will have more diversity in their flora. And yet another geographic factor is the availability of raw materials, like metals to make tools.

 

            Marine resources can be a contributing factor. Good fishing can provide food for many people. The abundance of fish depends on a number of ecological factors. For instance, the presence of a coral reef. Fishing is made easier if you have hospitable terrain at the shore, such as gentle hills and beaches. But if there are rocky slopes or cliffs or other factors making the shore hard to reach, fishing becomes less convenient.

 

            Isolation for a culture can affect it. This factor can limit trade and cultural interactions with other societies. And while isolation can make a community less likely to be attacked, it also tends to curtail the inventiveness that would normally be brought out by the necessity of defense. Sometimes a military or defensive application of creativeness can lead to technical advancements.

 

 

These are some, but not all, of the reason which can affect why different cultures advance at different rates on different continents.