Explain how climate and human habitation are related and distinguish between the main climate types.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Climate and human habitation are closely interlinked. Climate refers to the long-term weather patterns and conditions in a particular region, including temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other atmospheric variables. Human habitation refers to the settlement and occupation of an area by humans.
The relationship between climate and human habitation can be seen in several ways:
Agriculture and Food Production: Climate plays a crucial role in determining the types of crops that can be grown in a region. Different crops have specific temperature and precipitation requirements. For example, regions with a temperate climate are suitable for growing wheat, while tropical climates are conducive to cultivating crops like rice and bananas. The availability of suitable climate conditions for agriculture influences the choice of settlement locations and the development of agricultural societies.
Water Resources: Climate influences the availability of freshwater resources. Regions with high rainfall or proximity to rivers tend to have abundant water supply, making them favorable for human settlement. In contrast, arid or semiarid regions with limited rainfall pose challenges for habitation due to water scarcity. Human populations often concentrate around water sources such as rivers, lakes, or underground aquifers.
Extreme Weather Events: Climate determines the occurrence of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, droughts, floods, and heatwaves. These events can significantly impact human habitation. For instance, areas prone to frequent hurricanes may experience damage to infrastructure and disruption of daily life, affecting the sustainability of settlements in those regions.
Now, let’s distinguish between the main climate types:
Tropical Climate: Found in regions near the equator, tropical climates are characterized by high temperatures throughout the year and abundant rainfall. These areas typically have lush vegetation and support diverse ecosystems. Examples include the Amazon rainforest and parts of Southeast Asia.
Temperate Climate: Temperate climates occur in areas located between the tropics and polar regions. They are characterized by moderate temperatures and distinct seasons, including warm summers and cool winters. These regions often have fertile soils and support a wide range of agricultural activities. Examples include much of Europe and parts of North America.
Desert Climate: Desert climates are characterized by extremely low precipitation levels and high temperatures. These regions often have sparse vegetation and limited water resources. Examples include the Sahara Desert in Africa and the Arabian Desert in the Middle East.
Polar Climate: Polar climates are found near the Earth’s poles and are characterized by extremely cold temperatures and low levels of precipitation. These regions have long winters with little daylight and short, cool summers. The Arctic tundra and Antarctica are examples of polar climates.
Mediterranean Climate: Mediterranean climates are characterized by mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. These regions typically have fertile soils and support agriculture such as vineyards and olive groves. Examples include parts of California and the Mediterranean Basin.
Understanding the relationship between climate and human habitation helps us comprehend how environmental factors influence settlement patterns, economic activities, and the development of societies around the world. It emphasizes the importance of adapting to and mitigating the impact of climate change on human populations to ensure sustainable habitation in the future.
