I. The stages of Relationship between man and environment: The changing relationship of man with the environment from prehistoric 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.
II. A brief description of each stage is given below:
(a) Period of hunting and food gathering:
This period is related to the most primitive man when he had been basically a part of the 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. Man 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.
(b) Period of Animal Domestication and Pastoralism: With the passage of time, primitive man learnt to domesticate animals for his benefits. In the beginning, he might have domesticated 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 a nomadic way of life, as they had to move from one place to another 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 development 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 organisations. 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 onwards started the journey of man to transform the natural environmental resources around him through improved farming practices resulting in gradual increase in human population.
(d) Period of Science, Technology and Industrialization: (i) The advancement of industrial revolution in late nineteenth century and emergence of science and development of sophisticated technology, embittered and friendly relationship between man and his natural environment.
(ii) The impact of modern technology on the natural environment is highly complex and controversial. Highly advanced technologies and scientific techniques led to indiscriminate exploitation of the natural environment which have created most of the present day environmental problems.
III. From the days of early primitive man till today, man has venerated nature in different forms (trees, plants, animals, rivers, mountains etc.) Nature worship commands great sanctity in most of the communities.
