Read the article, “Nine sloughs: profiling the climate history of the Yuan and Ming dynasties, 1260–1644” (nine-sloughs-profiling-the-climate-history-of-the-yuan-and-ming-dynasties-1260-1644.pdf Download nine-sloughs-profiling-the-climate-history-of-the-yuan-and-ming-dynasties-1260-1644.pdf Download nine-sloughs-profiling-the-climate-history-of-the-yuan-and-ming-dynasties-1260-1644.pdf), and first, answer ONE of the following questions, noting which question you're answering. Second, comment on the posting of a classmate.

NOTE: The "Nine sloughs" article is a good work of scholarship and, as such, can seem a bit technical and dense in places: please don't worry about retaining data–you can skim these areas. What is important is getting an idea of the author's argument and general thesis.

"Environmental determinism" is a term that describes the causal influence that climate and geography have on the course of human history in a region. It is a concept that most historians treat cautiously.

[answer only one of the following, then comment on a classmate's posting]

1. Does "Nine sloughs" seem to make a good case for environmental determinism, or not? Use specific examples and explain your argument one way or the other.

2. Consider environmental determinism more broadly. Using a specific event or span of history, describe how using this analytical framework can allow for greater insight or comprehension of history.

3. How can environmental determinism lead to a distortion or misuse of evidence and cause misinterpretation of history or even harm? Use a real or hypothetical example.