The Impact of Environment on Culture

Culture is the choices that a group of people makes about how to interact with their environment. How do we survive? Is it easier to survive as a big group or a small group? How do we interact with strangers? How close to other strangers do we live? These are all very basic level questions. Like what choices do we make in this situation that will enable us to survive another week that over time will eventually contribute and build out into a full rich vibrant culture? Thoughts? Comments?