Environmental determinism is an outdated yet foundational concept in human geography. It delineates that the physical environment—distribution of oceans, seas,  rivers, glaciers, mountains, hills, plateaus, deserts, climate, and resources—influences human behaviour, culture, and the rise of civilisations. The evolution of this idea can be traced back to early Greek, Chinese, Roman, and Islamic traditions. Eventually, these traditions became an important part of environmental theory in modern geography. 

The origins of this idea can be traced back to ancient Greece. Hippocrates was the apostle of this idea. In his seminal work Airs, Waters, Places, he linked human health,  traits, and personality with climate, water quality, wind direction, and the geography of settlements. 

Aristotle was the flagbearer of Hippocrates’ ideas in Greece. According to him, climate shapes political systems, culture, human behaviour, and temperament. He stated that people living in cold areas are brave but less intelligent. However, people living in warm and humid climates are timid and less industrious. Drawing a comparison between hot and cold climates, he argued that Greece has a moderate and stable environment,  making it the most conducive place for the rise of civilisation. 

Romans continued this tradition, and renowned scholars and historians like Pliny the  Elder tried to expound this idea by developing an inextricable relationship between different environments, resources, and ways of living. 

Al-Biruni was a proponent of this idea in the Islamic tradition. His ideas were not merely based on a hypothesis. He extensively visited Asia, Central Asia, and India. In his book  Kitab al-Hind, he drew a relationship between geography and economic opportunities.  He wrote that fertile lands lead to diversity in economic activities. On the other hand,  harsh terrain hinders economic development. There is little professional diversity and 

more redundancy in economic opportunities. People are limited in their potential and exposure in such areas. 

Similarly, Ibn Khaldun, in his hallmark book Al-Muqaddimah, linked the rise and fall of civilisations with climate and geography. He explained that people living in cold climates are strong and laborious, while those residing in hot environments are more emotional and less strenuous. According to him, the environment is secondary to Asabiyyah. 

In modern times, Friedrich Ratzel is known as the founder of environmental determinism and political geography. According to him, the power of a state depends on its geography, landforms, and resources. A state........

© Paradigm Shift