Final answer:
The middle colonies were Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York, located in the mid-Atlantic region and known for their cultural diversity and economic growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The middle colonies consisted of Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. These colonies were situated in the mid-Atlantic region of North America and became known for their remarkable diversity and rapid population growth. They emerged during a time when the English were looking to expand their reach in North America, particularly after gaining control from the Dutch and the Swedes. The middle colonies displayed a unique mix of cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds largely due to the different patterns of settlement and immigration.
Life in the middle colonies during the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries was marked by economic prosperity, with New York and New Jersey developing as centers of commerce. Additionally, Pennsylvania, founded by William Penn as a haven for Quakers, was distinguished by its religious tolerance and peaceful relations with Native Americans. The fertility of the soil in the region helped to accelerate economic and population growth, further differentiating the middle colonies from their northern and southern neighbors.