GEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHY

History and Basic History and Basic ConceptsConcepts

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”

Why is Geography unique Why is Geography unique among the subjects we study among the subjects we study

in school?..1in school?..1It 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. .

Why is Geography unique Why is Geography unique among the subjects we study among the subjects we study

in school?..2in school?..2Geography 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

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.

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

 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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”

Early Greek Geographers…3Early Greek Geographers…3ErastothenesErastothenes (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”

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Jobs for GeographersJobs for GeographersTeaching Geography or Social StudiesTeaching Geography or Social StudiesWorking 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 ManagersGIS SpecialistsGIS SpecialistsProfessor in a UniversityProfessor in a UniversityConsultant (on environmental, landscape issues)Consultant (on environmental, landscape issues)