Nature, ecology, and the physical environment have always had a significant influence on the structure and shape of society. Historically, when humans were unable to control the effects of nature, the environment determined social patterns.

Different physical environments shaped societies in specific ways. For instance, people in a desert environment could not practice settled agriculture like those in fertile river valleys. The kind of food people ate, the clothes they wore, and their patterns of social interaction were determined by climatic conditions, whether in cold climates, port towns, or mountain passes.

The most powerful form of environment-related social change comes from natural disasters. Sudden and catastrophic events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, or tidal waves can change societies drastically. The tsunami of December 2004 is a key example of such a catastrophic event.

These changes are often irreversible, meaning they are permanent and prevent a return to previous conditions. For example, the tsunami destroyed livelihoods and completely altered the social structure of coastal villages. Such events can lead to the total transformation or destruction of societies.

However, with the increase in technological resources, the extent to which the environment influences society has been decreasing over time.