Geography and Climate In the American Colonies In a time when technological advances were non-existent, geography played a major role in the lives of all people. This was evident in the British colonies in America in the 17th century, where the rocky, barren soil and harsh climates effected settlers in New England, and the temperate climate and rich soil beneficially affected the lives of those in the south. However, to state that geography accounts for the differences in the colonial way of life in the three areas of British colonies, New England, the mid-Atlantic, and the South