2. What is Geography?
► The term “ Geography”is composed of two Greek word
Geo – “Earth” and
Graphien – “ to write , to describe”
► The Greeks defined Geography as “ Earth Description”
► Geography is a broad division of human knowledge which is concerned with the study of
the Earth’s surface and it’s relation to the activities of man.
► Geography captioned as “ Land and People”
3. Nature of Geography
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
► Consist of systematic study of origin , distribution and significance of the major physical features
of the earth such as landforms , oceans and natural resources.
PHYSICAL ELEMENTS ( NATURAL)
► Water Features
► Landforms
► Soil
► Mineral Resources
► Climate and Weather
4. HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
► Gives emphasis to the study of man’s imprint upon the earth . Such
subject as the distribution of population, various settlement pattern ,
featuring resulting from man’s productive activities.
HUMAN ELEMENTS ( Cultural)
► Population
► Cultural Inheritance
► Major Occupation
► Major Works / Accomplishment
5. BRANCHES OF GEOGRAPHY
► Regional Geography – Deals with all or many of geographic elements of a place or region.
► Topical Geography – Concentrates on the study of the earth feature or human activity as it
occurs throughout the world.
► Physical Geography – Is concerned with the location of such earth features as Land , water
and climate ; their relationship to one another to human activities.
6. SUB DIVISION OF PHYSICAL
GEOGRAPHY
► Geomorphology – Kind of physical geography that studies land and water forms as well
as the development of irregularities in the surface of the earth.
► Climatology ( related to meteorology)- Analyzes differences and similarities in climate
from place to place . It considers the wind movement , cloud formation , temperature ,
change and precipitation.
► Mathematical Geography – Has to do with the accurate measurements of the earth
and the calculation of the exact location of points on the earths surface such as the
exact location of a city in latitude and longitude.
7. ► Oceanography – Is concerned with the study of the ocean and it’s phenoma ,
current wave activity , temperature and it’s tide.
► Biogeography – Study of geographical distribution of plants , known as plant
geography
► Medical Geography- Is concerned with the study of the relationship between
disease –causing organism and their physical environment.
8. History of Geography
► Oldest existing map appears on clay tablet in Babylonia before 2000 B.C
► They developed 360 degrees circle system
► Greek and Roman geographers measured and devised a grid system of latitudes and
longitudes
9. Eratosthenes (273-192BC)
► Father of Geography
- Invented the term “Geography”
- Accurately calculated the Circumference of the
Earth
► Produce map of “ Known world”
11. Ptolemy ( 2nd Century CE)
► Guide to Geography
► Used a global grid system similar to latitude and longitude
12. Al Idrisi (1050 C. CE)
►Muslim Geographic compiler
►Master of “known world”
13. Exploration (12th to 18th Century
► Portugal leads early explorations
► The astrolabe , caravel (ship) and compass assist mariners from
Europe
14. Alexander Von Humboldt (1769-
1859)
► Naturalist
- Traveled extensively
- Scientific Description
► Focused on humanity’s interaction with nature
- First to include humans as part of natural world
15. Carl Ritter (1779-1859)
► Develop concept of Regional Geography
• Supported
• Environmental
•Determinism
► Human behavior is determined by ones physical environment
16. Carl Sauer ( 1889-975)
► Rejected ‘ environmental determinism’
► His ideas:
• Cultural Landscape -visible imprint of human
activity on the landscape
• Possibilism – Ones natural environment only limits
the range of choices available to culture
17. ► Geography helps us to explore and understand space
and place - recognising the great differences in cultures,
political systems, economies, landscapes and
environments across the world, and exploring the links
between them. Geography also provides an ideal
framework for connecting and bringing together other
fields of knowledge.
► • Geography is, in the broadest sense, an education for
life and for living. Learning through geography – whether
gained through formal learning or experientially through
travel, fieldwork and expeditions – helps us all to be more
socially and environmentally sensitive, better informed,
and more responsible as citizens and employees.
18. Question
► What are the Sub Divisions of Geography ? Give at
least three Sub division.
► It is a broad division of human knowledge which is
concerned with the study of the Earth's surface and
its relation to the activities of man. What it is?
► It is one of the branches that deals with all or many
of geographic elements of a place or region. What it
is ?
