Introduction To Human Geography PDF
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This document provides an introduction to human geography, discussing its fundamental concepts, scope and purpose. It examines the interaction between humans and their environment. The document also explores the evolution of human-environment relationships throughout history.
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INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN GEOGRAPHY The student will be able to: define what is human geography; explain the basic nature, scope and purpose of human geography; and FUN FACT: distinguish the characteristics of Did you know that you c...
INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN GEOGRAPHY The student will be able to: define what is human geography; explain the basic nature, scope and purpose of human geography; and FUN FACT: distinguish the characteristics of Did you know that you can’t sink in the Dead Sea? It has 8 to 9 times more salt human geography and the than all the other oceans and seas, creating a buoyancy that causes you to concept of how the environment float. together with humans interact and relate with one another. HOOK DEMOGRAPHICS PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY POSSIBILISM LANGUAGE E T H N I C I TY ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINISM ENVIRONMENT HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Describe the environment you're in. How does it influence your daily choices? What habits of yours do you believe will positively affect your environment? Human geography is a wide-ranging discipline that draws together many of the strands important for understanding the world today. Human geography It examines human societies and how they develop, their culture, economy and politics, all within the context of their environment. With the rise of globalisation and climate change, it has become increasingly relevant. DEFINING HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Human geography is the study of the interrelationships between people, place, and environment, and how these vary spatially and temporally across and between locations. Human geography Whereas physical geography concentrates on spatial and environmental processes that shape the natural world and tends to draw on the natural and physical sciences for its scientific underpinnings and methods of investigation. Human geography Whereas physical geography concentrates on spatial and environmental processes that shape the natural world and tends to draw on the natural and physical sciences for its scientific underpinnings and methods of investigation. NATURE OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Nature of Human Geography Human geography studies the inter- relationship between the physical environment and sociocultural environment created by human beings through mutual interaction with each other. Nature of Human Geography Human geography studies the inter- relationship between the physical environment and sociocultural environment created by human beings through mutual interaction with each other. Naturalisation of Humans and Humanisation of Nature Human Activity Humans adapt and modify the environment to sustain their needs and meet their goals: clearing land for agriculture, creating dams for storing and diverting water, and more. The Environment The environment can affect us in many ways. Pollution sways our decisions to stay in certain places; climate change may affect disease patterns and prompt us to take heightened precautionary health measures, to name a few. Naturalisation of Humans and Humanisation of Nature Human beings interact with their physical environment with the help of technology. It is not important what human beings produce and create but it is extremely important ‘with the help of what tools and techniques do they produce and create’. Naturalisation of Humans and Humanisation of Nature Technology indicates the level of cultural development of society. Human beings were able to develop technology after they developed better understanding of natural laws. the laws of aerodynamics to develop faster planes. The knowledge about Nature is extremely important to develop technology and technology loosens the shackles of environment on human beings. In the early stages of their interaction with their natural environment humans were greatly influenced by it. They adapted to the dictates of nature. This is so because the level of technology was very low and the stage of human social development was also primitive. This type of interaction between primitive human society and strong forces of nature was termed as environmental determinism. The physical environment for such societies becomes the “Mother Nature”. The people begin to understand their environment and the forces of nature with the passage of time. With social and cultural development, humans develop better and more efficient technology. They move from a state of necessity to a state of freedom. They create possibilities with the resources obtained from the environment. The human activities create cultural landscape. The earlier scholars termed this as possibilism. Nature provides opportunities and human being make use of these and slowly nature gets humanised and starts bearing the imprints of human endeavour. Human Geography through the Corridors of Time Human Geography through the Corridors of Time The process of adaptation, adjustment with and modification of the environment started with the appearance of human beings over the surface of the earth in different ecological niches. Earlier there was little interaction between different societies and the knowledge about each other was limited. Travellers and explorers used to disseminate information about the areas of their visits. The late fifteenth century witnessed attempts of explorations in Europe and slowly the myths and mysteries about countries and people started to open up. FIELDS AND SUB- FIELDS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Human Geography through the Corridors of Time Human geography, as you have seen, attempts to explain the relationship between all elements of human life and the space they occur over. Thus, human geography assumes a highly inter-disciplinary nature. Human Geography through the Corridors of Time It develops close interface with other sister disciplines in social sciences in order to understand and explain human elements on the surface of the earth. Human Geography through the Corridors of Time Human geography is a social science (whereas physical geography is a natural science). It helps us understand why people do what they do, and where. And that comprehension gives us a deeper understanding of cultures and helps us anticipate human behavior, which gives us a solid base for promoting human security. Essay Human geography’s main divisions cover human activities; how do people alter environments to meet their needs? Essay How would you go about modifying the environment for the common good? FIELDS AND SUB- FIELDS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY FIELDS AND SUB-FIELDS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Demographics and population measures Language Religion Ethnicity Education Health Groups (politics, civil, ideological) FIELDS AND SUB-FIELDS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Economy Landuse Transportation Water supply and control Communication and media Significant events and Climate & Weather