Final answer:
Environment and geography significantly influenced the migration and hunting patterns of pre-Columbian societies, dictating whether they led nomadic lifestyles or established permanent settlements, and affecting their subsistence strategies based on resource availability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The environment and geography played a crucial role in determining migration and hunting patterns for pre-Columbian societies. The abundance or scarcity of resources such as wildlife, vegetation, natural resources, and factors like soil fertility and climate had a major influence on whether societies were nomadic or settled. For instance, in environments where large game animals migrated seasonally, like in some regions of Africa, hunter-gatherers followed these migrations. In contrast, communities might turn to agriculture when conditions allowed for the domestication of plants and animals, leading to more permanent settlements. Factors such as access to drinking water and the availability of toolmaking resources also influenced the location and movements of these societies.
Geography, such as the presence of mountains, rivers, and plains, often dictated the routes of migration and the methods of subsistence for pre-Columbian peoples. For example, the introduction of the horse in the Americas transformed some Plains groups from agriculturalists to nomadic hunter/gatherers, emphasizing the impact of both environmental and introduced changes on societal development. Similarly, agricultural surplus, as seen in the Mississippian Cahokia settlement, allowed for the development of complex societies due to the stabilizing effect of domesticated crops and a steady food supply.