What is geography history

1. GEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHY
History and Basic History and Basic
ConceptsConcepts

2. What is Geography?What is Geography?
Geography is “the science that Geography is “the science that
studies studies the distribution of and the distribution of and
relationshipsrelationships between features between features
found on the earth’s surface places found on the earth’s surface places
where we live or travel"where we live or travel". .
The central issue in Geography evolves The central issue in Geography evolves
around the around the character of places, their character of places, their
similarities, and differencessimilarities, and differences
ErastothenesErastothenes (276-194 BC), an Ancient (276-194 BC), an Ancient
Greek Scholar first coined the term Greek Scholar first coined the term
"Geography” "Geography”

3. Why is Geography unique Why is Geography unique
among the subjects we study among the subjects we study
in school?..1in school?..1
It is primarily concerned with It is primarily concerned with how things how things
are distributedare distributed over the earth’s surface. over the earth’s surface.
It It uses graphicsuses graphics (maps, pictures, (maps, pictures,
photography & graphs) and taxonomy photography & graphs) and taxonomy
(classification of things) approach in its (classification of things) approach in its
studies.studies.
It plays a part in It plays a part in understanding the understanding the
contemporary world contemporary world unlike that of any unlike that of any
other field of studyother field of study. .

4. Why is Geography unique Why is Geography unique
among the subjects we study among the subjects we study
in school?..2in school?..2
Geography is not defined by its Geography is not defined by its subject subject
mattermatter (the things it studies) but rather (the things it studies) but rather
the methodthe method it adopts to study those it adopts to study those
materials. materials.
Geographers adopt an Geographers adopt an interdisciplinary interdisciplinary
(holistic) approach(holistic) approach to study things & to study things &
processes on the earthprocesses on the earth
Geographic Study focuses on Geographic Study focuses on the inter-the inter-
relationships relationships between various phenomena between various phenomena
found on the earth’s surfacefound on the earth’s surface

5. Human habitat & Human habitat &
Geographic studiesGeographic studies
The The human habitathuman habitat is made up of: is made up of:
A natural environment:A natural environment: comprising comprising
natural features e.g. trees, rivers, natural features e.g. trees, rivers,
weather, etc.weather, etc.
A cultural environmentA cultural environment: consisting of : consisting of
products of human civilization e.g. products of human civilization e.g.
schools, cities, cars, computers and schools, cities, cars, computers and
buildings.buildings.

6. Major sub-disciplines in Physical Major sub-disciplines in Physical
& Human Geography& Human Geography
Geography Geography
integrates a wide integrates a wide
variety of subject variety of subject
matter.matter.
Almost any area of Almost any area of
human knowledge human knowledge
can be examined can be examined
from a spatial from a spatial
perspective perspective
The main divisions The main divisions
are are Physical and Physical and
Human GeographyHuman Geography
PHYSICAL
HUMAN

7.  Physical Geography Human Geography
 Rocks and Minerals  Population
 Landforms  Settlements
 Soils  Economic Activities
 Animals  Transportation
 Plants  Recreational Activities
 Water  Religion
 Atmosphere  Political Systems
 Rivers & other water bodies Social Traditions
 Environment  Human Migration
 Climate and Weather  Agricultural Systems
 Oceans  Urban Systems

8. Holistic SynthesisHolistic Synthesis
Geographic studies Geographic studies
involves a holistic involves a holistic
synthesis. synthesis.
Holistic synthesis Holistic synthesis
connects knowledge connects knowledge
from a variety of from a variety of
academic fields in academic fields in
both Human and both Human and
Physical Geography.Physical Geography.

9. The Holistic Approach – strengths The Holistic Approach – strengths
and weaknessesand weaknesses
The holistic nature of Geography is both a The holistic nature of Geography is both a
strength and a weakness. strength and a weakness.
Geography's strengthGeography's strength comes from its comes from its
ability to connect functional ability to connect functional
interrelationships that are not normally interrelationships that are not normally
noticed in narrowly defined fields of noticed in narrowly defined fields of
knowledge. knowledge.
The The holistic approach is weakholistic approach is weak
because holistic understanding is often because holistic understanding is often
too simple and misses important details. too simple and misses important details.

10. Historical development of Historical development of
GeographyGeography
The first truly geographical studies occurred The first truly geographical studies occurred
more than more than 4,000 years ago4,000 years ago when explorers began when explorers began
traveling to new lands. traveling to new lands.
The The Chinese, Egyptian, and PhoenicianChinese, Egyptian, and Phoenician
civilizations were beginning to explore the places civilizations were beginning to explore the places
and spaces within and outside their homelands. and spaces within and outside their homelands.
The earliest evidence of geographic explorations The earliest evidence of geographic explorations
comes from the archaeological discovery of a comes from the archaeological discovery of a
Babylonian clay tablet map that dates back to Babylonian clay tablet map that dates back to
2300 BC. 2300 BC.

11. Early Greek Geographers…1Early Greek Geographers…1
The GreeksThe Greeks were the first civilization to were the first civilization to
practice a form of Geography that was practice a form of Geography that was
more than mere map makingmore than mere map making
Greek philosophers and scientistsGreek philosophers and scientists were were
interested in learning about spatial nature interested in learning about spatial nature
of human and physical features found on of human and physical features found on
the Earth. the Earth.

12. Early Greek Geographers…2Early Greek Geographers…2
Ancient Greek scholar Ancient Greek scholar ErastosthenesErastosthenes
first coined the word first coined the word "Geography"."Geography".
The term “Geography” is composed of two The term “Geography” is composed of two
Greek words Greek words
–Geo = Geo = EarthEarth and … and …
–Graphien = Graphien = to write , to describeto write , to describe
The Greeks defined Geography as The Greeks defined Geography as
““Description of the Earth”Description of the Earth”

13. Early Greek Geographers…3Early Greek Geographers…3
ErastothenesErastothenes (circa 276 - 194 BC) (circa 276 - 194 BC) calculated calculated
the equatorial circumference of the earth the equatorial circumference of the earth
to be to be 40,233 kilometers40,233 kilometers using simple using simple
geometric relationships. geometric relationships. Read more… Read more…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eratostheneshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eratosthenes
This primitive calculation was unusually This primitive calculation was unusually
accurate. Measurements of the Earth using accurate. Measurements of the Earth using
modern satellite technology have modern satellite technology have
computed the circumference to be computed the circumference to be 40,072 40,072
kilometers.kilometers.
Eratosthenes coined the term Eratosthenes coined the term
“Geography”“Geography”

14. Early Greek Geographers - …4Early Greek Geographers - …4
AristotleAristotle (circa 384 - 322 BC) (circa 384 - 322 BC)
hypothesized and scientifically hypothesized and scientifically
demonstrated that the Earth had a demonstrated that the Earth had a
spherical shape using evidence from spherical shape using evidence from
observations of lunar eclipses. observations of lunar eclipses.
HerodotusHerodotus (circa 484 - 425 BC) (circa 484 - 425 BC) wrote a wrote a
number of volumes that described the number of volumes that described the
Human and Physical Geography of the Human and Physical Geography of the
various regions of the Persian Empire. various regions of the Persian Empire.

15. Early Roman GeographersEarly Roman Geographers
Greek accomplishments in Geography were Greek accomplishments in Geography were
passed on to the Romans.passed on to the Romans.
StraboStrabo (circa 64 BC - 20 AD) wrote a 17 (circa 64 BC - 20 AD) wrote a 17
volume series called "volume series called "GeographiaGeographia“ in which he “ in which he
described the Cultural Geographies of various described the Cultural Geographies of various
societies found from Britain to as far east as societies found from Britain to as far east as
India, and south to Ethiopia and as far north as India, and south to Ethiopia and as far north as
IcelandIceland

16. Early Roman GeographersEarly Roman Geographers
Ptolemy Ptolemy (circa 100 - 178 AD) published (circa 100 - 178 AD) published
Geographike hyphegesisGeographike hyphegesis or or ""Guide to Guide to
GeographyGeography"" that summarized much of that summarized much of
the Greek and Roman geographic the Greek and Roman geographic
knowledgeknowledge
Ptolemy also made 3 important Ptolemy also made 3 important
contributions to modern Geography:contributions to modern Geography:
–created created three different methods for projecting three different methods for projecting
the Earth's surfacethe Earth's surface on a map, on a map,
–calculated coordinate locationscalculated coordinate locations for some 8,000 for some 8,000
places on the Earth, and ...places on the Earth, and ...
–developed the concepts of geographical developed the concepts of geographical
latitude and longitudelatitude and longitude

17. Early World map based on Ptolemy’s Early World map based on Ptolemy’s
techniquestechniques
This early world map was constructed using techniques This early world map was constructed using techniques
developed by developed by PtolemyPtolemy. The map is organized with crisscrossing . The map is organized with crisscrossing
lines of lines of latitude and longitude. latitude and longitude.

18. The Muslim geographer Al-
Idrisi (1100-1165) prepared
a world map and geography
text in 1154.
 lbn- Battutah (1305-
13687) wrote Rihlah
(Travels) based on three
decades of journeys.
Muslim GeographersMuslim Geographers

19. Renaissance: German GeographersRenaissance: German Geographers
Benhardus Varenius (1622-1650)Benhardus Varenius (1622-1650) published an published an
important geographic reference titled important geographic reference titled
Geographia generalisGeographia generalis ( (General General
GeographyGeography: 1650).: 1650). He used direct He used direct
observations and primary measurements to observations and primary measurements to
present new ideas about geographic knowledge. present new ideas about geographic knowledge.
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) also divided also divided
Geography into a number of sub-disciplines. He Geography into a number of sub-disciplines. He
recognized the following six branches: recognized the following six branches: Physical, Physical,
Mathematical, Moral, Political, Commercial, and Mathematical, Moral, Political, Commercial, and
Theological Geography. Theological Geography.

20. Renaissance: German Renaissance: German
GeographersGeographers
Alexander von HumboldtAlexander von Humboldt published published
KosmosKosmos (1844) which examines the (1844) which examines the
Geology and Physical Geography of the Geology and Physical Geography of the
Earth. Earth.
Fredrich RatzelFredrich Ratzel theorized that the theorized that the
distribution and culture of the Earth's distribution and culture of the Earth's
various human populations was strongly various human populations was strongly
influenced by the natural environment. influenced by the natural environment.
Carl Ritter (1780-1859)Carl Ritter (1780-1859) developed the developed the
concept of Regional Geographyconcept of Regional Geography

21. Basic Concepts: Basic Concepts:
Environmental determinismEnvironmental determinism
Environmental DeterminismEnvironmental Determinism explains that explains that
human beings are the products of the human beings are the products of the
environment where they live. The environment environment where they live. The environment
determines the future of people. E.g. coastal determines the future of people. E.g. coastal
people become fishermen, those who live in people become fishermen, those who live in
forested areas become loggers & farmers etc. forested areas become loggers & farmers etc.
Geographers who supported the Environmental Geographers who supported the Environmental
determinism concept included: determinism concept included:
–German scholarsGerman scholars - Carl Ritter & Friedrich - Carl Ritter & Friedrich
Ratzel Ratzel
–American scholarAmerican scholar - Ms. Ellen Churchill Semple. - Ms. Ellen Churchill Semple.

22. Basic concepts - Basic concepts -
PossibilismPossibilism
Possibilism Possibilism explains that the environment does explains that the environment does
not dictate what people would become. Rather, not dictate what people would become. Rather,
the environment offers opportunities for people to the environment offers opportunities for people to
become what they choose to be. become what they choose to be.
The French Geographer: Paul Vidal de la The French Geographer: Paul Vidal de la
BlancheBlanche and others opposed the determinism and others opposed the determinism
idea. Instead, they suggested that human beings idea. Instead, they suggested that human beings
were a dominant force shaping the environment. were a dominant force shaping the environment.
The idea that humans were modifying the physical The idea that humans were modifying the physical
environment was championed in the United States environment was championed in the United States
by by George Perkins MarshGeorge Perkins Marsh who wrote - who wrote - Man Man
and Natureand Nature or or The Earth as Modified by The Earth as Modified by
Human ActionHuman Action, first published in 1864. , first published in 1864.

23. Four Traditions of GeographyFour Traditions of Geography
In 1964, In 1964, William PattisonWilliam Pattison suggested that modern suggested that modern
Geography was composed of Geography was composed of four academic four academic
traditions:traditions:
–Earth Science TraditionEarth Science Tradition: the study of natural : the study of natural
phenomena from a spatial perspective. This phenomena from a spatial perspective. This
tradition is best described as Physical tradition is best described as Physical
Geography Geography
–Culture-Environment TraditionCulture-Environment Tradition : the : the
geographical study of human interactions with geographical study of human interactions with
the environment. the environment.
–The Location Tradition:The Location Tradition: Geography study of Geography study of
the spatial distribution of natural and cultural the spatial distribution of natural and cultural
features on the earth’s surface features on the earth’s surface
–Area Studies (analysesArea Studies (analyses) Tradition: the ) Tradition: the
geographical study of an area on the Earth at geographical study of an area on the Earth at
either the local, regional, or global scale.either the local, regional, or global scale.

24. Jobs for GeographersJobs for Geographers
Teaching Geography or Social StudiesTeaching Geography or Social Studies
Working as a Surveyor, Working as a Surveyor,
Employed in the Foreign Service.Employed in the Foreign Service.
Environmental Scientist at DEP Environmental Scientist at DEP
Town, City, Urban and/or Regional Planner. Town, City, Urban and/or Regional Planner.
Marketing researcher Marketing researcher
Travel Agents or Tour Guides.Travel Agents or Tour Guides.
Cartographer,(USGS) or Defense Mapping Agency, Cartographer,(USGS) or Defense Mapping Agency,
Enumeration Officer. Enumeration Officer.
Officer in the Navy, Army of Air force Officer in the Navy, Army of Air force
Resource ManagersResource Managers
GIS SpecialistsGIS Specialists
Professor in a UniversityProfessor in a University
Consultant (on environmental, landscape issues)Consultant (on environmental, landscape issues)