Worldbuilding 101: Shaping Your World Through Landscape

Worldbuilding is more than just setting the stage—it's about crafting entire worlds filled with depth, intrigue, and authenticity. When done right, it pulls readers in and immerses them in a completely different reality. However, getting started can feel daunting. With endless possibilities and no clear starting point, creating a cohesive world may seem overwhelming. But don't worry! In this series, we’ll break it down step by step, starting with the landscape. If you’re new to worldbuilding, be sure to check out our overview post for a broader overview before diving into the details!

The Importance of Geography in Worldbuilding

A world’s landscape is not random. Mountains, rivers, forests, and deserts all have a purpose. They shape not only the physical environment but also the culture, economy, and history of the people who inhabit them. The geography of a world dictates where settlements are established, how people interact with their surroundings, and how they adapt to challenges posed by the environment.

Mountains: Barriers, Resources, and Protection

Mountains serve more than just a visual element in your world. They act as natural barriers, shaping the movement of people, animals, and even ideas. The towering peaks can provide natural protection from invaders, creating isolated, self-sufficient societies, or they can act as harsh boundaries that limit expansion. But mountains aren't just defensive; they also bring opportunities. Consider how mining operations could thrive in these areas or how mountaintop fortresses could become symbols of strength. At the same time, they present significant challenges: harsh weather, limited resources, and the difficulty of communication or transportation.

Rivers: Arteries of Trade, Borders, and Life

Rivers, on the other hand, are arteries that bring life to your world. A river’s flow determines much of the economy, providing access to water for agriculture, transportation, and trade. Riverbanks often become bustling trade routes, and towns and cities will spring up at their intersections. But rivers also define borders. As natural boundaries, they can divide kingdoms or act as a source of tension between neighboring cultures. The flooding of rivers can be both a blessing and a curse, influencing agriculture, settlement growth, and even religious beliefs.

Forests: Resources, Mysticism, and Tension

Forests and woodlands are essential to creating a sense of atmosphere. Forests can represent both abundance and mystery. The trees provide resources like wood for construction and fuel, food from plants and animals, and sometimes even magical elements, like enchanted groves. They offer shelter and protection but can also be places of fear and danger, especially if mythical creatures or ancient spirits inhabit them. Forests shape local economies through hunting, timber, or herbalism, and the people who live in these areas might have deep spiritual connections to the land. Cities built at the edge of forests may be dependent on them, but they also face constant tension between the need to harvest resources and the need to preserve nature.

Deserts: Survival, Trade, and Harsh Beauty

Deserts are extreme environments that test the resilience of life. These vast, open stretches of barren land can shape a culture of survival and endurance. Cities in desert landscapes often develop around oases, where water is scarce but vital. Trade routes may cross these arid regions, creating strategic centers of commerce. The desert is often a harsh teacher, and civilizations that thrive in these environments adapt unique lifestyles, including specialized architecture designed to keep out the intense heat and ways to store and conserve precious water. Deserts also foster the mythology of survival, mystery, and secrets, often hiding lost cities or treasures beneath the sand.

Climate: The Catalyst for Culture and Adaptation

Climate plays a crucial role in defining your world’s geography. A temperate zone will create fertile lands perfect for agriculture, while a cold, harsh climate may give rise to a culture based on resourcefulness and toughness. The people who live in these regions develop technology, food sources, and social structures that suit their environment. The shift from one climate to another can also create interesting cultural contrasts, where neighboring societies might have drastically different ways of life, beliefs, and values, all dictated by the conditions around them.

Erosion and Tectonic Activity: Forces of Change

Finally, erosion and tectonic activity are forces of nature that can alter landscapes over time. Volcanoes can give birth to new lands, forming islands or creating fertile grounds for agriculture. Earthquakes and shifting tectonic plates may reshape entire regions, causing cities to fall or rivers to change course. The scars of these natural phenomena can become part of the world’s history, influencing settlements and the path of development.

Creating a World Through Geography

The landscape of your world is more than just scenery. It is an essential aspect of your world that directly influences the lives of its inhabitants. Whether mountains offer defense or challenge, rivers provide sustenance or division, or deserts create mystery or hardship, the environment shapes everything from cultural norms to political alliances. The geography you choose sets the foundation for the entire world, providing the bedrock for every civilization, conflict, and character that lives within it.

Building a believable and immersive landscape requires thought and consideration of how each natural element works together. It’s not just about designing a pretty map; it’s about understanding how the land will define the societies that exist within it, driving everything from their way of life to their survival. Once you’ve laid the foundation of your world’s landscape, the possibilities for culture, economy, and conflict are endless.

Next Steps in Worldbuilding

Next time, we’ll explore how cities and settlements evolve from this landscape and why they choose specific locations to call home. But for now, think about the terrain of your world. What mountains, rivers, or forests will define your setting? How will the geography shape the lives of the people living there? These questions are your first steps in creating a world that feels as real as the one we live in.