Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
Geography plays a significant role in shaping people's lives, as evidenced by the different political, economic, and social characteristics of early peoples in North America, the Inca civilization in South America, and the Maya and Aztec civilizations in Middle America. For example, the harsh environment of the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of North America influenced the Inuit people's subsistence lifestyle, where hunting and fishing were critical for survival. The online textbook notes that the Inuit people lived in igloos, and their clothing was made from animal skins, emphasizing their dependence on the natural resources in their environment.
In South America, the Andes mountain range presented significant challenges to the Inca civilization's political and economic systems. The Inca people built an extensive network of roads and bridges to connect their empire and facilitate trade and communication. According to the online textbook, the Inca civilization was also able to develop a complex irrigation system that allowed them to cultivate crops in the mountainous terrain.
In Middle America, the Maya and Aztec civilizations were significantly influenced by the region's tropical environment. The Maya people developed advanced agricultural practices, including the use of terrace farming, to sustain their population. The Aztecs, on the other hand, were able to thrive in a swampy region through the construction of chinampas, or floating gardens, which allowed them to grow crops and increase their food supply. These different agricultural practices and adaptations to the environment influenced the political and economic systems of these civilizations.
Overall, geography played a crucial role in shaping the political, economic, and social characteristics of early peoples in the Americas. The natural environment influenced their subsistence, agricultural practices, and ability to develop trade and communication networks, which, in turn, impacted their political and economic structures.