drals, temples, cemeteries, monuments, and even shrines. They represent organization within the society and sometimes, economic levels which allow for surplus and specialization. Studies are often conducted on these structures that investigate characteristics such as form, orientation, and destiny. Studies have shown, that worship occur in areas of concentrated population, and tend to be larger than other concentrations of people. Function of worship places often dictates form and vice-versa. Landscape is also affected by religious practice because of how the community handles the world around it. Some cases are crop rotation, acceptable and unacceptable commodities, and burial practices. Religious doctrine may have even greater effects. Religiously dictated rates of fertility affect population, which in turn affects the landscape. Religiously sanctioned wars cause destruction and upheaval and can also affect the economy of a region. Many other factors also come into play, a commonly known factor is the obligation to read scripture, that results in a geographical trait of high literacy rates in an area. This was a common trait in European countries in historical times. A more modern example of religious practices affecting a local landscape is the Amish settlements in northeastern America. These settlements exist without electricity and other things that we consider necessities. Religious organization of geographical space is also a common characteristic in the relation of religion and geography. For example, religions often ritualize their living space through myths about ancestors. These settlements have sacred connection to elements of the original territory. As a religion becomes more complex, space in a settlement is divided and separated even, from the outside world. As a result, areas can be classified into varying degrees of holiness or separation. Sacred places can be found anywhere. Lakes, rivers, on mountai...
