Social Science Education 102-human geography.pptx

Social Science Education 102-human geography.pptx

1. SSE 102: HUMAN GEOGRAPHY MARK LESTER B. LIQUIGAN, PhD Associate Professor I

2. “Geography is everything and everything is geography.”

3. Definition and Meaning Human geography or anthropogeography is  the branch of geography which studies spatial relationships between human communities, cultures, economies, and their interactions with the environment.

4. The study of: -how people make places, -how we organize space and society, -how we interact with each other in places and across space, and -how we make sense of others and ourselves in our locality, region, and world.

5. Themes of Human Grography Location Human-Environment Interaction Region Place Movement

6. The Historical Evolution of Geographical Thought Understand the historical evolution of geographical thought involves exploring how geographic knowledge, theories, and methodologies have developed over time. This evolution reflects broader changes in human society, culture, technology, and scientific understanding. The historical evolution of geographical thought is a rich and complex narrative that traces how humans have understood and conceptualized the world around them. From the earliest civilizations to the modern era, geography has evolved from basic observations of the environment to a sophisticated discipline that integrates multiple fields of knowledge. This evolution reflects broader changes in human society, culture, technology, and scientific understanding.

7. Ancient Beginnings: Observations and Mapping   The earliest geographical thought emerged from basic human needs to navigate, utilize resources, and understand the environment. Early societies, such as the Egyptians, Mesopotamians, and Chinese, developed rudimentary forms of mapping and geographical description. For instance, the Babylonians created some of the first known maps, etched on clay tablets, depicting their known world. In Ancient Egypt, geographical knowledge was crucial for managing agricultural production along the Nile, while in China, early geographic writings detailed the empire's vast territories.

8. Greek scholars made significant advancements by transitioning from mere observation to more systematic geographic inquiry. Figures like Herodotus and Eratosthenes were among the first to treat geography as a distinct field of study. Eratosthenes, often called the "father of geography," is credited with coining the term "geography" and for calculating the Earth's circumference with remarkable accuracy for his time. His work laid the groundwork for understanding the Earth as a spherical object and influenced future geographic thought.  

9. Classical and Medieval Geography: Expansion of Knowledge   The Classical period saw the development of more sophisticated geographic ideas, particularly through the works of Greek and Roman scholars. Ptolemy's " Geographia " was a monumental work that compiled and expanded on the geographical knowledge of the time, providing detailed maps and a coordinate system that influenced cartography for centuries. Ptolemy's work reflected a growing understanding of the world's diversity and the need to systematically represent it.

10. During the Medieval period, much of the classical knowledge was preserved and expanded upon by scholars in the Islamic world. The Islamic Golden Age saw significant contributions to geography, particularly in the areas of cartography, navigation, and exploration. Scholars like Al-Idrisi and Ibn Battuta combined empirical observations with the classical texts to produce detailed maps and travel accounts that reflected a broader understanding of the world. Their work helped bridge the knowledge of the ancient and medieval worlds, contributing to a more global perspective on geography.

11. The Age of Exploration: A New Worldview   The Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of geographical thought. European explorers, driven by the desire for trade, wealth, and conquest, ventured into unknown territories, leading to the discovery of new lands and the expansion of geographic knowledge. This period saw the creation of more accurate maps and the development of new navigation techniques, which were essential for long-distance sea voyages.

12. The discoveries of new continents, particularly the Americas, fundamentally altered the European worldview. Geographers and cartographers were tasked with integrating these new lands into existing models of the world. The work of explorers like Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, and James Cook, along with the cartographic contributions of figures like Gerardus Mercator, who developed the Mercator projection, played a crucial role in this process. This period also saw the beginning of systematic colonialism, which would have profound implications for global geography and the distribution of power and resources.

13. The Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment: Systematization of Geography   The Scientific Revolution of the 17th century brought a more rigorous approach to the study of geography. Advances in astronomy, physics, and mathematics allowed for more precise measurements of the Earth and its features. The Enlightenment further encouraged systematic exploration and the classification of the natural world. During this period, geography began to be seen as a scientific discipline .  

14. Prominent figures such as Alexander von Humboldt and Carl Ritter played key roles in transforming geography into a more empirical and systematic field of study. Humboldt’s work emphasized the interconnections between physical geography and the environment, laying the foundations for biogeography and environmental science. Ritter, on the other hand, focused on the relationship between human societies and their environments, contributing to the development of human geography. Together, their work established geography as a discipline that bridged the natural and social sciences.

15. 19th and 20th Century: Geography as a Formal Discipline   The 19th and early 20th centuries saw geography become a formal academic discipline, with the establishment of geographical societies, university departments, and specialized journals. This period was marked by the development of various subfields within geography, such as physical geography, which focuses on the Earth's natural processes, and human geography, which examines the relationships between people and their environments.

16. The advent of theories such as environmental determinism, which suggested that the physical environment shaped human societies, reflected the growing influence of geographic thought in understanding social development. However, this theory was later challenged by the concept of possibilism, which argued that while the environment may influence human activity, it does not determine it, and that human agency plays a crucial role in shaping societies.   The 20th century also witnessed the incorporation of new technologies and methodologies in geography, such as aerial photography, remote sensing, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). These innovations revolutionized the field, allowing for more detailed and dynamic representations of geographic data, and expanding the scope of geographical research to include areas like urban planning, environmental management, and spatial analysis.

17. Contemporary Geography: Globalization and Interdisciplinary Approaches   In the contemporary era, geography has continued to evolve, reflecting the complexities of an increasingly interconnected world. Globalization, climate change, and technological advancements have all influenced the direction of geographical research. Modern geography is highly interdisciplinary, drawing on insights from sociology, economics, political science, environmental science, and other fields to address global challenges.  

18. Critical geography has emerged as a significant trend, questioning traditional assumptions and focusing on issues of power, inequality, and social justice in the spatial distribution of resources and opportunities. The study of geopolitics, for example, examines how geographical factors influence political decisions and global power dynamics, while environmental geography focuses on the interactions between human activity and the environment, particularly in the context of climate change.   The historical evolution of geographical thought thus reflects humanity's changing relationship with the world. From the basic observations of early civilizations to the complex, interdisciplinary approaches of today, geography has grown into a dynamic and essential discipline, helping us understand not only where things are but also how and why they are connected. As the world continues to change, so too will the ways in which we study and understand it, with geography remaining at the forefront of this intellectual journey.