Depend, Modify, Adapt: How Humans Change the Environment

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This educational video explores the dynamic relationship between humans and the Earth through three distinct categories of interaction: depending on the environment, modifying the environment, and adapting to the environment. The host, Caroline, guides viewers through a chronological journey of human history to illustrate how these interactions have evolved from the days of early hunter-gatherers to modern industrialized society. The narrative emphasizes that while human needs have remained consistent, the scale and impact of our actions on the planet have grown exponentially alongside our population. The video is structured around three major historical eras: the Hunter-Gatherer society, the Agricultural Revolution, and the Industrial Revolution. It details specific characteristics of each period, such as the low-waste lifestyle of nomadic tribes versus the habitat destruction caused by early farming, and the technological advancements of the industrial age versus the resulting pollution and urbanization. Key concepts like selective breeding, crop rotation, and the extinction of megafauna due to overhunting are explained to show the complexity of human impact. For educators, this resource serves as an excellent bridge between social studies and environmental science. It provides a clear framework for analyzing history through an ecological lens, helping students understand the trade-offs inherent in human progress. The video encourages critical thinking about sustainability by asking students to weigh the benefits of societal advancement—like reliable food sources and medicine—against environmental costs like deforestation and resource depletion, ultimately empowering them to think about future solutions.