Culture helps human societies survive in changing natural environment.
Culture
helps
human
societies
survive
in
changing
natural
environment
.
For example, the end of the last Ice Age, beginning about 15,000 years ago, brought a big challenge to which humans had to adapt.
For
example
,
the
end
of
the
last
Ice
Age
,
beginning
about
15,000
years
ago
,
brought
a
big
challenge
to
which
humans
had
to
adapt
.
Before this time, large parts of the northern hemisphere were covered in great sheets of ice that contained much of the earth' s water.
Before
this
time
,
large
parts
of
the
northern
hemisphere
were
covered
in
great
sheets
of
ice
that
contained
much
of
the
earth
'
s
water
.
In North America, large animals that wandered the vast tundra provided people with food and materials for clothing and simple shelters.
In
North
America
,
large
animals
that
wandered
the
vast
tundra
provided
people
with
food
and
materials
for
clothing
and
simple
shelters
.
When the earth became warm, large Ice Age animals disappeared, and many land areas were covered by rising sea levels from melting ice.
When
the
earth
became
warm
,
large
Ice
Age
animals
disappeared
,
and
many
land
areas
were
covered
by
rising
sea
levels
from
melting
ice
.
But people survived, they developed new technologies and learned how to survive on new plant and animal species.
But
people
survived
,
they
developed
new
technologies
and
learned
how
to
survive
on
new
plant
and
animal
species
.
Finally some people settled into permanent villages, durable houses and farms.
Finally
some
people
settled
into
permanent
villages
,
durable
houses
and
farms
.
Cultural adaptation has made humans one of the most successful species on the planet.
Cultural
adaptation
has
made
humans
one
of
the
most
successful
species
on
the
planet
.
Through history, major developments in technology, medicine, and nutrition have allowed people to reproduce and survive in ever-increasing numbers.
Through
history
,
major
developments
in
technology
,
medicine
,
and
nutrition
have
allowed
people
to
reproduce
and
survive
in
ever-increasing
numbers
.
The global population has risen from 8 million during the Ice Age to about 6 billion today.
The
global
population
has
risen
from
8
million
during
the
Ice
Age
to
about
6
billion
today
.
However, the successes of culture adaptation can also create problems in the long run.
However
,
the
successes
of
culture
adaptation
can
also
create
problems
in
the
long
run
.
Over the last 200 years, people have begun to use large quantities of natural resources and energy and to produce a great amount of material and chemical wastes.
Over
the
last
200
years
,
people
have
begun
to
use
large
quantities
of
natural
resources
and
energy
and
to
produce
a
great
amount
of
material
and
chemical
wastes
.
The global population now consumes some important natural resources--such as petroleum, wood, and minerals--faster than nature can produce them.
The
global
population
now
consumes
some
important
natural
resources
--
such
as
petroleum
,
wood
,
and
minerals
--
faster
than
nature
can
produce
them
.
Many scientists believe that in the process of burning fuels and producing wastes, people may be changing the global climate in unpredictable and possibly harmful ways.
Many
scientists
believe
that
in
the
process
of
burning
fuels
and
producing
wastes
,
people
may
be
changing
the
global
climate
in
unpredictable
and
possibly
harmful
ways
.
Thus, the adaptive success of the present-day global culture of production and trade may be temporary.
Thus
,
the
adaptive
success
of
the
present-day
global
culture
of
production
and
trade
may
be
temporary
.
Culture helps human societies survive in changing natural environment. For example, the end of the last Ice Age, beginning about 15,000 years ago, brought a big challenge to which humans had to adapt. Before this time, large parts of the northern hemisphere were covered in great sheets of ice that contained much of the earth' s water. In North America, large animals that wandered the vast tundra provided people with food and materials for clothing and simple shelters. When the earth became warm, large Ice Age animals disappeared, and many land areas were covered by rising sea levels from melting ice. But people survived, they developed new technologies and learned how to survive on new plant and animal species. Finally some people settled into permanent villages, durable houses and farms.  Cultural adaptation has made humans one of the most successful species on the planet. Through history, major developments in technology, medicine, and nutrition have allowed people to reproduce and survive in ever-increasing numbers. The global population has risen from 8 million during the Ice Age to about 6 billion today.  However, the successes of culture adaptation can also create problems in the long run. Over the last 200 years, people have begun to use large quantities of natural resources and energy and to produce a great amount of material and chemical wastes. The global population now consumes some important natural resources--such as petroleum, wood, and minerals--faster than nature can produce them. Many scientists believe that in the process of burning fuels and producing wastes, people may be changing the global climate in unpredictable and possibly harmful ways. Thus, the adaptive success of the present-day global culture of production and trade may be temporary.