ABSTRACT
The lives of men, like those of all other creatures are conditioned by their physical environments; but in their case the conditioning is both more complicated and less rigid than in the case of the lower creation because of their psychic endowment. There are fundamental geographical conditions which remain constant over immensely long periods of time; the generations pass but the mountains and the seas remain. In the study of the relationships between geographical conditions, the structures and the natures of societies there are few generalizations which are of much value. The profitable course is to study the effects of settings upon particular societies at a particular period. Geographical settings influence societies also by the sentiments to which they give rise. The elements in scenery have a powerful effect upon a human spirit; round them, especially if they are the surroundings of childhood, almost ineradicable sentiments grow. Love of scenery is a strong ingredient in both local and national patriotisms.
