Sequent occupance describes landscapes being shaped by successive waves of people. Which option best describes this concept?

• A. The study of weather patterns
• B. Economic cycles
• C. The influence of successive waves of people on the landscape
• D. The migration of wildlife

Answer: (C)

Sequent occupance reveals how landscapes accumulate cultural layers as different populations occupy and reshape the land. The best description is the idea that successive waves of people leave lasting influences on the landscape, creating a palimpsest of buildings, roads, land use, and cultural patterns that reflect multiple eras of occupation. This helps explain why a city or region shows varied architectural styles and land forms—the imprint of each group’s choices sits atop or beside what came before. The other options don’t fit because weather patterns are about climate, economic cycles concern markets and production, and wildlife migration involves ecological movement, not durable human-imposed changes to the land.