Dependence of Man on Environment. 127 



ifiecl, it is true, to a great degree by their environment of struc- 

 ture and climate. 



The third modification is probably the highest of all, and is 

 that which has been foreshadowed in the ethnic relations of a 

 peo^jle ; that the human spirit in all lands, ages, and stages of 

 growth from the beginning has had the same general tendencies, 

 modified, it is true, greatly by structure and climate, but never- 

 theless overcoming to a degree all external influences. This is 

 shown by the fact, although it is still under discussion, that col- 

 lision, contact and mutual influences of peoples with peoples 

 have not been necessary to similar manifestations and common 

 tendencies. It is also shown by the universality of like myths, 

 of religious beliefs, fetiches, totems and religious tendencies, com- 

 mon to the Eskimo and South Sea islanders, and arts that bear 

 strong resemblances that grew out of these common tendencies. 

 With these great modiflcations of the fundamental principle of 

 the influence of surface structure on the growing life of man, the 

 knowledge of geography — that is, of surface structure — is abso- 

 lutely indispensable to the study of history. 



The study of history, briefly stated, is the study of the growth 

 and development of the spirit, or soul, of man from the begin- 

 ning ; the study of the individual, anthropology ; the study of 

 community life of man, ethnology ; and with it, closely allied, 

 is the study of the influence of surface structure, or geography, 

 and its relation to that life. 



It is not my purpose to present a method for the study of 

 geography in its relation to histor}^, but rather to call attention 

 to the general direction of this study. We may begin in broad 

 lines and show the common relations of similar forms of struc- 

 ture, as for instance, the influence of mountains, natural for- 

 tresses and enclosures, swamps, and desert oases, as places of 

 refuge for tribes and nations after they have passed the lower 

 phases of the development of the plains and steppes. The 

 steppe or prairie was adapted to nomad life, a stage of evolution 

 which may be considered as indispensable to human evolution. 

 The periodic or scanty rains on the steppes made grass the 

 principal means of nourishment. Nomad life on the steppes 

 of Eurasia had far stronger influences on civilization than the 

 prairies of America, for the old world had domesticated cattle, 

 while the prairies were mere hunting grounds until river bends 

 afibrded protection to barbarians emerging from lower stages. 



