ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN SOCIETY

1 ENVIRONMENT and HUMAN SOCIETY MODULE - 1. ENVIRONMENT through Ages 2 Notes ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN SOCIETY . The HUMAN beings (Homo sapiens sapiens), evolved more than two million years ago. They evolved with a large brain, that enabled them to think, and use their judgment. Humans walked erect on two legs, which made their hands free to negotiate manual functions. As is with other animals, the survival of humans also entirely depended on their obtaining food from the ENVIRONMENT . Being intelligent, HUMAN beings exploit environmental resources for many purposes other than just for procuring food . In the last few centuries, the exploitation of environmental resources has dramatically increased, leading to serious damage and degradation of the ENVIRONMENT .

2 In this lesson you shall learn about the utilization and exploitation of natural resources and how, they are being overexploited. OBJECTIVES. After studying this lesson, you will be able to: list the natural resources obtained from the ENVIRONMENT ;. describe the interaction between primitive SOCIETY and ENVIRONMENT in terms of food gathering, food hunting and nomadic life;. describe the tools used by primitive humans and discovery of fire;. explain how settled life began;. discuss the origin and evolution of agriculture including domestication of animals;. state the importance of the invention of wheel;. explain how industrialisation began;. identify factors that led to the growth of industrialisation;. explain how exploitation of natural resources started.

3 13. MODULE - 1 Environmental Science Senior Secondary Course ENVIRONMENT through Ages NATURAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THE. ENVIRONMENT . Primitive humans interacted with ENVIRONMENT for survival. As humans became more and Notes more cultured, they devised means of using environmental resources for making life comfortable and protecting themselves from various environmental stresses (danger). Abiotic resources Abiotic resources are the physical resources of nature that are described below. a. Land: Many organisms including humans live on land. Land forms just approximately 29% of earth's surface includes mountains, rocks, deserts, swamps, forests and grasslands. Humans use land for growing crops that provide them with food . They also need land to build shelters, roads and cattle sheds.

4 The need for land usage is steadily growing. To cater to the needs of the growing population, urbanization and industrialization, land is being used for building dams, flyovers, subways and factories. Land resources are fast diminishing. b. Water: The natural water bodies include oceans, seas, and surface water bodies such as rivers, lakes, water falls and ponds. Almost 80% of the earth's fresh water remains frozen at higher latitude and on mountains tops. Only 20% is available in liquid form. The primary source of water on land is the rainfall. Water is an essential requirement of all living beings. Water is required for irrigation of agricultural crops. industries building construction culture of fish, prawn, aquatic plants (aquaculture).

5 Drinking, bathing, cleaning, washing, gardening, pottery making etc. Water though a naturally replenishable resource, but overuse and wastage of water is leading to its scarcity. c. Energy: The prime source of energy is solar radiation. Primitive humans used firewood and cow dung and other animal wastes for heating and cooking. Oil extracted from seeds and fish was used by them to light caves and shelters. Another major source of energy is fossil fuel such as coal. Coal as you know has been formed from vegetation which grew millions of years ago, fell and got trapped in sediments. Under immense pressure and intense heat for years, tress and vegetation burned in sediments transformed into coal. Coal is used as a fuel for cooking, for running locomotives, furnaces industries and generating electricity.

6 Coal is also used for extraction of metals and minerals and in thermal power generation. 14. ENVIRONMENT and HUMAN SOCIETY MODULE - 1. ENVIRONMENT through Ages d. Petroleum and natural gas are also fossil fuels. Petroleum probably originated from marine animals that lived during past geological periods, just as coal was formed from vegetation. Petroleum and natural gas are obtained from deep inside the earth and they are non-renewable energy resources. Petroleum products are used for running automobiles, steamers, aeroplanes and for making plastics and fertilizers. Petrol and Notes diesel are refined petroleum products. You might have heard about CNG (compressed natural gas), which is now being used to run automobiles and considered to be a relatively clean fuel.

7 Natural gas and diesel are used for electricity generation. LPG. (Liquid Petroleum Gas) comes in cylinders or through pipes and is used as fuel for cooking. Petroleum is also called mineral oil. Like petroleum, natural gas is a mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons. Energy is also harnessed from sun (solar energy), wind (wind energy), animal excreta (biogas), sea (tidal energy) and radioactive minerals (nuclear energy). e. Metal ores or minerals: Metal ores are chemical compounds (salts) of metal such as Aluminium, iron, copper, lead, zinc, manganese etc. These ores are found as deposits in earth. Aluminium is used to make utensils, parts of vehicles, aircraft, and spacecraft. Iron and its alloys are used for making armaments, heavy machinery, railway engines, railway lines and a wide variety of articles.

8 Copper is used for making industrial containers, electric wire and also used in electronic and telecommunication industries. Alloys such as brass and bronze contain copper. However, the availability of metal ores is limited and their increasing mining depletes them fast. Silver, gold and platinum are among the precious metals used and treasured by humans. Biotic resources (living natural resources). Biotic resources- These include plants, animals and microorganisms. a. Plants: The natural food resources included in HUMAN diet are the various cereals, legumes, vegetables and fruits. Humans cultivate plants to obtain good grains, pulses, spices, vegetables, fruits, sugar and oil. Fibre yielding plants are grown to humans obtain cotton, jute and flex etc.

9 Flowers of various kinds are cultivated for ornamental purposes. Some plants having medicinal value have been extensively used from time immemorial. Industrial raw material such as rubber, resins, wood are irreplaceable plant products. b. Animals: Goat, fish, eggs, poultry, prawns and crabs are source of food for HUMAN beings. Horses, bullocks, elephant, oxen, camels, donkeys, yaks etc. are used for transportation as draught animals. Yaks and sheep yield wool for woolens. Silk worm are grown for silk. 15. MODULE - 1 Environmental Science Senior Secondary Course ENVIRONMENT through Ages c. Microorganisms: provides antibiotics. Their use in fermentation and in breweries is an age old practice. Microbes are responsible for processing waste and dead plants and animals.

10 The environmental resources provide humans, substances for survival, Notes entertainment, maintenance, decoration and for several other purposes. But for how long? On the one hand natural resources are fast depleting because of overexploitation by humans. On the other hand, earth is becoming a big dumping ground for waste generated by the activities of the fast growing HUMAN population. This is fast becoming cause for deterioration of HUMAN , animal and plant life. INTEXT QUESTIONS 1. Name two natural resources without which life cannot exist. _____. 2. State two uses each for (i) land and (ii) metals are used by humans. _____. 3. State two uses of animals for humans. _____. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRIMITIVE HUMAN . SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENT .