Relationship between man and environment

Thus study of relationship between man and environment has always attracted attention. The relationship of man and environment has also influenced the development of human society. It may be noted that, it is significant to note the following three aspects of human. :

(i) Physical man is a component of the biological community and as such, requires basic elements of physical environment such as air, water, food and habitat etc, like other biological population and release wastes in the eco-system. 

(ii) Social man establishes the social institutions, forms the social organizations and formulates laws and policies to safeguard his existence, interests and welfare. 

(iii) Economic man derives and utilizes resource freedom the physical and biological environment with his skills and technologies. 

The changing relationship of man with the environment from pre-historic to modern times can be divided into the following four periods:-

a) Hunting and food gathering. 

b) Animal domestication and pastoralism. 

c) Plant domestication and agriculture. 

d) Science, technology and industrialization. 

a) Period of hunting and food gathering

This period is related to the most primitive man when he had been basically a part of natural environment and was functionally as a 'biological man' or 'physical man' because his basic requirements were limited to food and shelter. The natural environment satisfied all his wants. The relationship between man and the environment was very friendly. Was leading a nomadic life . Then a stage came when he learnt to hunt animals. The discovery of 'fire' which was accidental, taught man to cook animal flesh before eating. So we can say that the discovery of fire and subsequently, invention of tools and weapons made man capable of exploiting natural resources for his benefit. Some would also conclude by saying that "fire was the first major ecological tool used by man to change the environment for his own benefit. 

b) Period of animal domestication and pastoralism

With the passage of time, primitive man learn to domesticate animals for benefits. In the beginning, he might have domesticate some milch/cattle and animals for meat and slowly his herd of domesticated animals must have increased. Domestication of animals might have given birth to group or community life among early people in order to protect their flock and themselves from wild animals. They still stuck to nomadic way of life, as they had to move from one place to other in search of water, food for themselves and fodder for animals. 

c) period of plant domestication and agriculture

Domestication of plants for food became a hallmark in the environment of human skills of taming and controlling the biotic component of the natural environment system. Domestication of plants initiated primitive type of agriculture and sedentary settled life of people who were nomads. Cultivation of food crops resulted in the formation of social groups and organizations. Now man started settling down in the river valleys due to availability of water and fertile land which came to be known as 'river valley civilization'. From here onward started the journey of man to transform the natural environment resources around him through improved farming practices resulting in gradual increase in human population. This led to clearing of forests to have access more agricultural land. With the passage of time, man developed his own cultural environment by building houses and creating towns and cities, constricting roads and bridges. 

d) period of science, technology and industrialization

The advancement of industrial revolution in late nineteenth century and emergence of science and development of sophisticated technology, embittered the friendly relationship between man and his natural environment. The impact of modern technology on natural environment is highly complex and controversial. Highly advanced technologies and scientific techniques led to indiscriminate exploitation of natural environment which have created most of the present day environmental problems. 

From the days of early primitive man till today, man has venerated natural in different forms (trees, plants, animals, rivers, mountains etc). Natural worship commands great sanctity in most of the communities. There are communities, which have total reverence towards nature 'Bishnoi' from Rajasthan in India is one such group. In the Indian tradition, nature and man form an inseparable parts of life support system. The five elements, i.e., air, water, land, flora and fauna are inter-related and inter-dependent.