Which term refers to the belief that the spirits of past generations are present in nature, objects, or people?

The term that refers to the belief that the spirits of past generations are present in nature, objects, or people is: Animism
In animism, you believe that every objects near your environment have some sort of souls that could influence your life, which is why animism practice often involve giving gift or praying to inanimate objects.

Bob: coke is baby pandas.jim: what? how do you figure that coke is baby pandas? bob: because this book says so.jim: how do we know the book is correct? bob: because it says that coke is baby pandas.jim: how does that prove the book's accuracy? bob: because it's statement involving coke and baby pandas is correct, therefore it is accurate.jim: how do we know that it's correct? bob: because we have concluded that the book is accurate, and therefore the statement is correct.therefore, coke is baby pandas.

It allowed for things to be produced much more quickly and efficiently