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Geography. is the study of the world, but as the world is a large and complex place, the subject is divided up into two main areas - human geography and physical geography. The study of the ...
- Overview
- Historical development of geography
geography, the study of the diverse environments, places, and spaces of Earth’s surface and their interactions. It seeks to answer the questions of why things are as they are, where they are. The modern academic discipline of geography is rooted in ancient practice, concerned with the characteristics of places, in particular their natural environments and peoples, as well as the relations between the two. Its separate identity was first formulated and named some 2,000 years ago by the Greeks, whose geo and graphein were combined to mean “earth writing” or “earth description.” However, what is now understood as geography was elaborated before then, in the Arab world and elsewhere. Ptolemy, author of one of the discipline’s first books, Guide to Geography (2nd century ce), defined geography as “a representation in pictures of the whole known world together with the phenomena which are contained therein.” This expresses what many still consider geography’s essence—a description of the world using maps (and now also pictures, as in the kind of “popular geographies” exemplified by National Geographic Magazine)—but, as more was learned about the world, less could be mapped, and words were added to the pictures.
To most people, geography means knowing where places are and what they are like. Discussion of an area’s geography usually refers to its topography—its relief and drainage patterns and predominant vegetation, along with climate and weather patterns—together with human responses to that environment, as in agricultural, industrial, and other land uses and in settlement and urbanization patterns.
The history of geography has two main parts: the history of exploration and mapmaking and the development of the academic discipline.
Britannica Quiz
Geography (from Ancient Greek γεωγραφία geōgraphía; combining gê 'Earth' and gráphō 'write') is the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. [1] Geography is an all-encompassing discipline that seeks an understanding of Earth and its human and natural complexities —not merely where objects are, but also ...
May 22, 2023 · Geography is the study of the earth’s surface, its features, and the relationships between the natural and human environments. It is a diverse and dynamic field that encompasses everything from the physical aspects of the earth to the social, cultural, and economic interactions that occur on its surface. This article aims to provide an ...
Sep 13, 2024 · Geography is the study of places and the relationships between people and their environments. Geographers explore both the physical properties of Earth’s surface and the human societies spread across it. They also examine how human culture interacts with the natural environment and the way that locations and places can have an impact on people.
Geography in the school curriculum. Geography speaks directly to young people’s curiosity, wonder and concern for the world around them. It is a subject that can provide them with the knowledge and competencies they need to understand and contribute to the world they live in. At a time of crisis about the fragile state of life on planet Earth ...
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Aug 4, 2017 · The word geography literally means “earth writing”. Geography has been elucidated by various sources time and again. Here is a general definition of geography: “Geography is the study of the Earth’s physical features and environment including the impact of human activity on these factors and vice versa. The subject also encompasses the ...
