NGEC 11 (HUM-102) Geography Basics

Study Notes

Derived from Greek words: "geo" (earth) and "graphy" (description).
Geography is the description of the Earth, focusing on the relationship between man and his environment.

First noted scholar: Hecatus, who described lands and people near the Mediterranean Sea.
Hecatus's work titled "lies, periods" contributed to his recognition as the father of geography.
Eratosthenes coined the term "geography" around 200 B.C. and described lands and people.
Influential definitions of geography come from various scholars, emphasizing aspects like ecology, distribution, spatial variations, and human-environment interaction.

Geography consists of two primary branches: Physical Geography and Human Geography.

Focuses on the natural environment including five elements: land, water, air, plants, and animals.
Subfields of Physical Geography:
- Geomorphology: Study of landforms and drainage patterns.
- Climatology: Study of weather and climate.
- Biogeography: Study of distribution of plants and animals.
- Soil Geography (Pedology): Focus on soil characteristics and distribution.
- Hydrology: Study of water properties and distribution.

Examines human activities on the Earth's surface in relation to the environment.
Three types of human activities:
- Living on the Earth’s surface.
- Creating livelihoods.
- Designing living spaces.
Divided into three branches:
- Social Geography: Studies the arrangement of social phenomena.
  - Subfields: Settlement geography, population geography, political geography, medical geography.
- Economic Geography: Focuses on spatial variations in economic activities.
  - Subfields: Geography of resources, agricultural geography, transport geography, industrial geography.
- Cultural Geography: Studies distribution and interaction of cultural groups.
  - Subfields: Languages, religion, tools and skills, social organizations.

Divided into two approaches based on methodology:
- Systematic Geography: Examines specific geographical factors across large areas.
- Regional Geography: Analyzes a region’s character by integrating various phenomena.

Two main techniques for geographical study:
- Cartography: The science of map-making and representations.
- Use of maps and spatial analysis as primary tools to understand geographical phenomena.