The Field of Geography PDF

The Field of Geography B. History of Geography Geography is the study of the Earth's landscapes, people, places and environments. The term "Geography" was first used by the ancient Greek scholar Eratosthenes, who was a chief librarian at the famous Library of Alexandria in the third century B....

The Field of Geography B. History of Geography Geography is the study of the Earth's landscapes, people, places and environments. The term "Geography" was first used by the ancient Greek scholar Eratosthenes, who was a chief librarian at the famous Library of Alexandria in the third century B.C. The subject of geography is much more than describing places or memorizing the names of capitals and countries. Geography seeks to understand the world by studying the lands features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. Geography draws from many other sciences and social sciences, including economics, political science, history, biology, geology, mathematics, and computer science. The work of geographers is important to urban, regional, and environmental planningThe field of geography has a history that stretches over many centuries. Over this time period, the study of geography has evolved and developed into an important form by different scholars. EclipseSince the beginning of mankind, the study of geography has captured the attention of the people. Geography is the answer to the questions that the earliest humans asked, "What's over there?" and "How did we get here?". Through an understanding of place and location, the earliest humans tried to find the answers. Exploration and the discovery of new places and new cultures were of the main concerns of humans. Geography is one of the oldest academic disciplines. Ancient people such as the Chinese, the Egyptians, and the Phoenicians made long journeys and recorded their observations of foreign lands. Thus, geography is often called the "mother of all sciences" as studying other people and other places led to other scientific fields such as Biology, Anthropology, Geology, Mathematics, Astronomy, and Chemistry. The early Greeks were the first civilization to practice a form of geography. The word geography is derived from them and literally means "To describe or write about the Earth". The early Greeks experienced many adventures and tried to explain and communicate the differences between various lands. Aims of Studying Geography Geography teaches an understanding of places and environments. Through your studies in geography, you learn about your local area and compare your life in this area with that in other regions in the rest of the world. It stimulates your interest in the world around you and encourages your appreciation of it. Geography informs you about: -The places and communities in which you live and act -Your natural environments and the problems they face -The physical and human patterns and their interactions -How and why the world is changing globally -How and why your community is changing -How your actions contribute to those changes -The choices that humans have in managing our world for the future -The importance of location in business and decision-making Eclip