Final answer:
The middle colonies' geography was characterized by fertile soil and strategic locations along the Hudson and Delaware Rivers, which supported their diverse and rapid economic and population growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The geography of the middle colonies in North America included the fertile regions along the Hudson and Delaware Rivers. This geography supported the diverse and rapid economic growth witnessed in the colonies, which included New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
The fertility of the soil in these areas contributed significantly to their agricultural prosperity. Additionally, the strategic location of these colonies encouraged commercial activities, particularly in the former Dutch settlements of New York and New Jersey.
Recognizing the commercial potential, English proprietors such as the Duke of York sought to expand their wealth through the development of these territories.
This resulted in the middle colonies becoming among the most culturally diverse and commercially active regions in North America during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Religious tolerance, as exhibited in Pennsylvania's foundation by William Penn for the Quakers, and the pragmatic attitude towards ethnic diversity further shaped the unique character of the middle colonies.