<P> The colonization of the south was greatly affected by the geography of the region . Jamestown Island (then a peninsula) itself was chosen for its physical geographic properties . Located inland a ways the peninsula offered protection from European powers as well as the James River ran deep enough in that the colonists could anchor their ships off shore, providing a simple and easy access . Geography often had a role in playing in settlement selection in the south, with most early settlements only extending as far inland as ships or boat could easily travel . The fall line between the piedmont and tidewater region is marked by settlements on where boats could not travel further due to the waterfalls and rapids common in this region . </P> <P> Early colonization was marked by disaster and the failure of colonists to provide properly for themselves as well as turn a profit for the Virginia Company . This is in part due to the misconceptions about climate in Europe . Common belief in the "old world" had it that climates were the same at similar latitudes all across the world . Therefore, the southern United States, and Virginia in particular, were expected to be similar in climate to Southern Spain . Because of this colonists and Virginia Company initially tried to cultivate such plants as mulberry trees and orange trees, which were not sustainable . </P> <P> While not as prevalent a belief, some European colonial leaders argued that the warmer climates of the southern latitudes would also cause such precious metals to rise towards the surface of the earth . Along with the stories of Spanish conquests finding "cities of gold", the Virginia Company sent along with their initial colonists equipment for prospecting and mining gold . These beliefs were shown to be wrong and equipment for agriculture and cultivation would have aided the early colonists . </P> <P> Despite these initial misconceptions, the southern United States was rich geographically in particular for agricultural production . Tobacco, rice, and indigo were the main cash crops of the south during the colonial period . In 1612 John Rolfe introduced Tobacco into Jamestown and by 1640 England was importing 1.5 million pounds of tobacco from Virginia . Tobacco Cultivation was extremely difficult, and simple farmers on an acre of land just could not meet the demands in England on their own . With the introduction of African slaves in 1619, plantations began to arise that could meet the demand in the Europe . </P>

How does the physical geography of new england differ from that of the southern region