Evolution of Geography
GEOGRAPHY
Geographyis one of the oldest earth science and its roots date back in the works of the
early Greek scholars. The word ‘geography’ was first used by the Greek scholar
Eratosthenes in the third century B.C.
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| Eratosthenes |
Geo “Earth” and Graphy “to describe”
literal meaning of geography is to describe about the earth’s surfaces. In
other words “Geography is largely the study of the interaction of all physical
and human phenomena and landscapes created by such interactions.” It is about
how, why, and where human and natural activities occur and how these activities
are interconnected. Geography has undergone changes in its approach. The
earlier geographers were descriptive geographers. Later, geography came to be
developed as an analytical science. Today the discipline is not only concerned
with descriptions but also with analysis as well as prediction.
Geography
has been defined differently through different periods of its history
Geographical work in ancient Greece had followed two traditions. One was the
mathematical tradition which was focused on fixing the location of places on
the earth’s surface, and the other was gathering geographic information through
travels and field work. According to them, the purpose of geography was to
provide a description of the physical features and conditions in different
parts of the world. The emergence of regional approach in geography also
emphasized the descriptive character of geography. According the Humboldt,
geography is the science related to nature and it studies and describes all
material things found on earth. Another important school of thought defined
geography as the study of man-environment relationships.
Development of Geography
Ancient Period
The
earliest records illustrate the interests of scholar in understanding the
physical domain of the earth by making maps and astronomical measurements. The
Greeks are given the credit of being the earliest geographers, prominent among
them being Hower, Herodouts, Thales Aristotle and Eratosthenes.
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| Herodouts |
Pre-modern Period
This
period starting from the middle of 15th century and continuous with
18th early provides us enormous information about the physical and
cultural nature of the world by the travels and explorations of early
geographers. The early 17th century witnessed the beginnings of new
scientific geography. Christopher Columbus and Vasco de gama, Fesdinend Meghellan and Thomas Cook were important
explorers and travelled among those. They contributed in the development of
cartography and discovering new lands, and developing geography into a
scientific discipline.
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| Christopher-Columbus |
Modern Period
Ritter
and Himboldt are frequently referred to us the founder of modern geography.
Generally, latter half of 19th century is considered as a period of
modern geography. The first modern geographer in true sense was Ratzel who
built the structure of modern geography on the foundations laid down by
classical geographers.
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| Ratzel |
Recent Period
The
development of geography during the post Second World War period has been very
rapid. The American and European geographer such as Hartshorne have contributed
the maximum during this phase. Hartshorne described geography as a science
dealing with area differentiation. The present day geographers look upon
regional approach and systematic approach as complimentary rather than
contradictory.
Methods
and techniques of geography
Each
branch of systematized knowledge has certain methods tools and techniques on
which it depends to further its basic objectives. Geography too has its tools,
techniques and methods. Important among them are globes, maps, diagrams, relief
models and spatial analytical methods. Cartography is concerned with
preparation of maps and diagrams to show distribution of geographical
phenomena. Important methods in geography are deductive and inductive in
nature. Various statistical techniques and models are used for regional
analysis and to understand spatial distribution and interaction.
Cartography
Most
of us are fascinated with maps. “Cartography” is the study and practice of
making maps and diagrams. It represents the earth with maps and abstract
symbols. Maps have traditionally been made using pen, ink and paper, but
computers have revolutionized cartography and with GIS methods one can prepare
maps and diagrams with greater choice and efficiency.
Spatial
data is obtained from measurement and other published sources and can be stored
in a database, from which it can be extracted for a variety of purposes.
Current trends in this field are moving away from drawing with ink or paper
type methods of map making towards the creation of increasingly dynamic,
interactive maps that can be manipulated digitally. Most commercial quality
maps are now made with map making software that falls into one of three main
types, Computer aided data management (CAD), Geographic Information Systems
(G.I.S) and Global Positioning system(GPS).
Cartography has grown from a
collection of drafting techniques into an actual science. Cartographer must
understand which symbols convey information about the Earth most effectively,
and make such maps that will encourage everyone to use the maps to find places
or use it for their daily work. A cartographer must learn geodesy and fairly
advanced mathematics to understand how the shape of the Earth affects the
distortion of map symbols projected onto a flat surface for viewing.
“Geographic
Information Systems” deals with the storage of information about the Earth for
automatic retrieval by a computer in an accurate manner. In addition to other
sub discipline of geography, GIS specialist must understand computer science
and database systems. Maps have traditionally been used to explore the Earth
and to exploit its resources. GIS technology, as an expansion of Cartographic science,
has enhanced the efficiency and analytic power of traditional mapping. Now, as
the scientific community recognized the environmental consequences of human
activities, GIS technology is becoming an essential tool in the effort to
understand the process of global change. Various map and satellite information
systems. Such visualization can help to predict what will happen to an area if
it is repeatedly flooded, or what changes are expected if a particular industry
is located or developed in an area.
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| GIS |
Quantitative methods in Geography
These
aspects of geographical techniques deal with numerical methods most commonly
found in geography. In addition to spatial analysis, you are likely to find
methods like cluster analysis, discriminate analysis in geographic studies.
Regional Science method
In
the 1950s, the regional science movement arose led by Walter Isard. This
provided a more quantitative and analytical base to geographical questions, in contrast to the more
qualitative tendencies of traditional geography, Regional science comprises the
body of knowledge in which like regional economic, resource management,
location theory, urban and regional planning, transportation and communication,
human geography, population distribution, landscape ecology, and environment
quality and examined for regional development.
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| Globe |
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