Describe the nature and growth of population and the resultant impacts on the environment

INTRODUCTION

How do we get what we need to live? In the beginning, humans were hunters and gatherers who, over time, became less nomadic and learned agriculture. Agriculture created surplus, allowing populations to grow. Then the cities drew our agriculturalists to factories and other employment. In some parts of the world, we are now post-industrialists, pursuing different endeavors than our parents or grandparents.

How does our method of survival change how we live? As we have shifted from one way of life to another, how have our social interactions changed? What new problems have presented themselves?

Once it was precarious and dangerous adventure to travel from one village to the next, and most people never did. Today, we are able to travel across large distances, both personally as well as virtually. Our media has changed dramatically and we can talk instantly with someone halfway around the world. As our cities grow, new challenges present themselves and as our population grows, there is a need to focus on environmental concerns. The diversity of beliefs around the world grows as we take a global view of Planet Earth.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Describe the causes and development of population trends and demographic measurements
• Compare and contrast theories of demography and population
• Describe the growth of cities and the development of suburbs and exurbs
• Compare and contrast human ecology and the concentric zone model