Some basics of geography

2. “The Nature of Geography”
A Presentation
For M.A.I Seminar, Patna University
Date- 14th Aug 2010
B y- A N M OL U T SA V
R oll no. 01,
M .A (Geography)
P atna U niversity

3. Nature of Geography

4. Period Ancient Period Pre-Modern Modern Recent Period
(before 1700A.D) or Classical Period (1850 (1950
Period -1950) onwards)
(1700-1850)
Important Heredotus,Thales Verenius, Kant, Ratzel, Semple, Harvey,
Geographers Erratosthenes, Humbolt, Huntington, La Chorley,
Strabo, Marco Ritter etc. Blache, Hagget,
Polo, Al-Maqdisi, G.Taylor etc. Schaefer,
Al-Biruni, Ibn- Hartshorne
Batuta, Shen Kua etc.
etc.
Theories/ By the means of Empiricism, Determinism, Quantitative
Methods/ Voyages & Generalization, Possibilism, Revolution,
Approaches expeditions Regionalizatio Stop-n-go Radicalism,
observations were n, Chorology determinism. Behaviouralism
made. etc. Humanism,
Scientific
Methods

5. GEOGRAPHY…?
EMPIRICAL SCIENCE
OBEDIENT TO DISCIPLINE
GENERALIZATION
REGIONALISATION
AREIAL DIFFERENCIATION
PERTAINMNET TO SCIENCE
HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIP
YIELDABLENESS

6. Geography means the study of earth surface and its variable phenomenon in
the perspectives of four sets of questions which are-
Related to identification of the patterns of natural and cultural
features as found over the surface of the earth.
Related to the distribution of the natural and human/cultural
over the surface of the earth.
Related to the explanation or the causal relationships between
Features and the processes and phenomena.
As a means of seeking alternatives and giving the subject an
applied`dimension that can assist decision makers in planning
and development at a variety of geographical scales.

7. Geography has been Empirical Science
* One should proceed from Observation to Observation
* Not from Preconceived opinions to hypothesis to observation.
X

8. Geography has established itself as a ‘mother discipline’ from which other
Specialized disciplines like metrology, soil science, plant ecology and regional
science have emerged.
It has multi-disciplinary perspective and is an outward-looking discipline.
Its an Inter-Disciplinary subject including physical as well as social sciences,
Studying functions and their effects of elements of physical and cultural
Environment.

9. (Systematic Geography/General Geography)
Systematic Geography is organized in terms of particular phenomena of general
geographic significance, each of which is studied in terms of the relations of its
areal differentiation with the others.
It seeks to formulate empirical generalizations or laws of the phenomena studied
and their universal application, in terms of significance to areal differentiation.
Systematic method in geography attempts to take one or a few aspects of the
human environment or the human population and studies their varying per-
formance over a pre-defined geographical space.

10. (Regional Geography/Special Geography)
Regional geography attempts to organize the knowledge of all interrelated forms
of areal differentiation in localized individual units of area, which it must
organize into a system of division and subdivision of the total earth surface.
Regional methods are characteristically broad based and include consideration
not only of the physical environment of the individual units of a given area but
also of the population of the unit.
This evolved Concept of Region- that each individual unit of a given
area is unique and distinguishable from one another.

11. There exists variation over the surface of the earth in it physical as well
as cultural Environment. Geography attempts to study :-
Geography evolved as a CHOROLOGICAL SCIENCE

12. (Scientific Approach)
Neither complete ‘Systematic Science’ nor ‘Social Science’
Borrows generic concepts or type classification from systematic science.
Applies those concepts for description of phenomena and interpretation
of their interrelations as accurate as possible.
Recent trends shows inclination towards Scientific Methodology, with introduction
of modern techniques for data collection and map making.
GIS Remote Sensing Cartography

13. Neither studies ‘Human’ nor ‘Nature’ POPULATION
•Size
Essentially studies that man-environment relationship •Distribution
as developed in different locations on the surface of •Density
the Earth, in the form of an assemblage of interrelated •Growth rate
Phenomena.
RESOURCES
Positive Supply Negative
feedback Demand feedback
Use
ENVIRONMEN
T
CHARACTERS
Abiotic
Biotic

14. Yieldableness means “DISPOSITION to YIELD”
Study of Geography
The ultimate goal of Geography is to yield for human FOR
Interest and benefit.
Yieldableness
Whatever the method, approach or technique is L
apllied Geography is meant to yield for LEAD
E TO
A
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. D
SUSTAINABLE
“…….Development of resources…..typological classification DEVELOPMENT
and regionalization of natural landscape…..of the earth, for
the purpose of their utilization and regeneration….subject
of geography” ---- A.M. Ryabchikov
“Geography must serves the national interest” ---- Scherepfer