Final answer:
Physical characteristics refer to natural features of a region, such as landforms and climate, while human characteristics pertain to human activities and influences, such as cultural practices and infrastructure. Both types of characteristics influence the development and current conditions of societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Difference Between Physical and Human Characteristics
Physical characteristics refer to the natural features of a region, such as landforms, climate, vegetation, and wildlife. Examples include mountains, rivers, deserts, and the variety of species that inhabit an area. These are the aspects of the environment that have not been modified by human activity and can influence the way societies develop and interact with the environment.
On the other hand, human characteristics are the attributes associated with human activities and influences on the environment. These include cultural practices, languages, religions, political systems, economic activities, and infrastructure like buildings, roads, and bridges. For instance, the design of a city, the type of government in power, and the prevalent industries in a region are all human characteristics that can shape and alter the physical landscape over time.
To understand changes in regions throughout history, it's important to analyze both physical and human characteristics. For example, the growth of a city (a human characteristic) can be affected by its proximity to water (a physical characteristic). Similarly, the distribution of biomes is influenced by climate (a physical characteristic), while urbanization and economic activities (human characteristics) can lead to modifications in these biomes.