The Harsh Realities of Nature: Exploring the Severe Conditions of the Sahara Desert
What details from "the oasis: Africa" support the central idea that nature can be severe and unkind?
"Sand in the scanty food, sand in the brackish water—water that was lukewarm from a clammy, loathsome water skin" portrays the details from "the oasis: Africa" best support the central idea that nature can be severe as well as unkind. Why does the presence of sand in food and water illustrate nature's harshness? How does the scarcity of oases affect human settlements in the region? What historical evidence demonstrates the impact of droughts on ancient empires?
Answer:
The extreme conditions of the Sahara Desert, with its lack of rainfall and severe temperature fluctuations, are the clearest details from "the oasis: Africa" portraying nature as severe and unkind. The scarcity of oases, which hindered the growth of large civilizations, and the historical impact of droughts on ancient empires, further support the central idea of nature's harshness.
The details from "the oasis: Africa" that best support the central idea that nature can be severe and unkind include the extreme, life-threatening conditions of the Sahara Desert. The sparse rainfall and extreme temperature swings create a landscape that is inhospitable, supporting only minor human settlements around few oases. The fact that large civilizations did not emerge in the more arid parts of Africa, such as the Sahara, due to lack of water for agriculture and fixed settlement illustrates the barrier that a severe natural environment can pose to human development.
These environmental challenges shaped the livelihoods of nomadic peoples and determined the distribution and prosperity of medieval kingdoms in regions like West Africa. The oases served as crucial hubs for trade, connecting various parts of Africa, but their scarcity highlights the overall severity of the natural surroundings. Additionally, historical evidence of droughts undermining empires such as the New Kingdom of Egypt and the Hittite Empire reaffirm the notion that environmental hardships can play a significant role in destabilizing societies.