Final answer:
Geography played a critical role in the economic development of mid-Atlantic colonial cities through the provision of fertile soils for agriculture, strategic locations for trade and migration, and the placement of early industrial factories near rivers and seaports, later redefined by the innovation of the steam engine.
Step-by-step explanation:
Geography's Role in the Economic Development of Colonial Mid-Atlantic Cities
The Mid-Atlantic region was known for its rich and fertile soils, allowing for prosperous small-scale agriculture and leading to a robust economy. This wealth in agriculture created a network of bustling towns and cities. The geographical location of cities like Philadelphia offered easy access to the Great Valley and waterways like the Ohio River valley, facilitating migration and trade. Further economic development in the late seventeenth century was driven by commercial ambitions, as English proprietors, taking over former Dutch settlements like New York and New Jersey, sought to increase their wealth through commerce. The combination of advantageous geography and the mercantile interests of colonial powers contributed significantly to the growth of the region's cities.
Additionally, the industrial revolution prompted drastic changes, as factories originally had to be near rivers and seaports for transportation and water power. However, the advent of the steam engine allowed for greater flexibility in factory placement, thereby drawing populations into urban centers and feeding urban growth. This industrialization was influenced by geological features which initially determined the locations of factories, and later, by technology that mitigated these geographical limitations.