Environment and Culture

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1. Did the environment create the original culture? (Environmental determinism) or was the culture formed despite the environment (possibilism)? The environment always forms the original culture of an area. Less developed or advanced peoples depend on their environment for survival, and the environment is key in the development of local customs, traditions and ideas. The native people who resided near Lake Victoria earned their living by the lake. By fishing in Lake Victoria, villagers provided their families with a bountiful food source. However, with the advent of colonization and outside pressure, Lake Victoria suffered from over-fishing and other ecological problems. I think that environmental determinism is the main idea in regards to Lake Victoria. The culture is constantly shifting with the environment as locals and outside powers come together in attempts to fix ecological issues. When over fishing of the cichlids became apparent, a new species of fish was introduced to the water. Granted, this new fish proved to do more harm than good, the idea was there. However, it is apparent that with the influence of the Western world, the culture of this community is shifting despite its environment of low-wages and push for the traditional way of life. Tourism has become more popular and natives are beginning attempts to commercialize their way of life as well as adopting aspects of Western culture (ie food, music etc). Lake Victoria and its natives have been changed over time by outside influences and manipulations. 2. What role did political and economic processes play in developing today’s culture around the lake? (Marxist geography) Also, what do you think the culture would look like today without theses processes? Today’s culture around Lake Victoria is shaped by

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