Food

We must eat in order to survive. Food contains energy, vitamins, and nutrients necessary for the human body to function properly. But people's eating habits vary considerably from one region and cultural sphere to another.

One reason behind this diversity is the global variation of the natural environment. The earth has a myriad of variably sized habitats and ecosystems, which affect the availability of foodstuffs. For example, people residing along waterways and coasts have traditionally eaten more fish than those living inland. Human curiosity, mobility, and the subsequent exchange of ideas and goods has greatly diversified these patterns. New food items and ways of preparing and consuming food have typically spread along trade routes, landing in the primary centers of exchange.

The dependency of cities on a ...