158 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



THE GEOGEAPHIC ASPECT OF CULTUEE 



By STEPHEN ELMER SLOCUM, Ph.D. 



PROFESSOE OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI 



THE dynamic influence of geography in history has recently attracted 

 general attention. The idea was developed from a philosophical 

 standpoint by Hegel/ about the middle of the last century, but only 

 recently has it come to be regarded as of special significance. In the 

 light of the discoveries of Hedin 2 and Huntington 3 in central Asia, 

 however, there can be no doubt that the characteristics of primitive 

 races are profoundly modified by environment. As an instance of this, 

 Huntington has shown that the Kirghiz nomads inhabiting the deserts 

 and plateaus of the Lop Basin in Chinese Turkestan are forced to lead 

 a roving life by reason of the scantiness of subsistence. This in turn 

 limits their occupations to the manufacture of portable articles such 

 as rugs and felts, while it also accentuates certain characteristics such 

 as hardihood and hospitality. In contrast to this type, the Chantos 

 inhabiting the oases are tied down to intensive agriculture, the effect 

 of which is also distinctly apparent in their character and occupations. 

 This is further intensified by the lack of sufficient rainfall, which in 

 their case has imposed such a severe limitation upon increase in popula- 

 tion as to have given rise to the institutions of monasticism and 

 polyandry. 



The United States also furnishes a notable instance of the effect of 

 physiographic environment. 4 The colonization of America was in 

 itself a matter of latitude, the tier of early colonies along the Atlantic 

 seaboard following practically the same arrangement as their European 

 prototypes. Again the barriers of sea and mountain gave coherence to 

 the New England colonies, which, reinforced by favorable latitude, 

 ripened the spirit of independence. Other natural features, such as 

 the great river valleys and mountain passes, were instrumental in 

 determining the great trade routes, as well as in shaping the campaigns 

 of the revolution and the civil war. 



In connection with topography, the related factor of climate is also 



1 Hegel, "The Philosophy of History" (1st ed., 1837), English translation, 

 Bell & Sons, 1902. 



2 Hedin, " Central Asia and Tibet," Scribners, 1903. 



8 Huntington, " The Pulse of Asia," Houghton, Mifflin, 1907. 

 4 Semple, " American History and its Geographic Conditions," Houghton 

 Mifflin, 1903. 



