Human Geography Lecture 1 - The Concept & Approaches - PDF

The Concept & Approaches to Human Geography GEOD 101 Introduction to Human Geography Lecture 1 Prof A.D. Ablo (PhD) Prof A. D. Ablo (PhD)  Aims To explain basic definitions of geography To explain the ‘what, where, w...

The Concept & Approaches to Human Geography GEOD 101 Introduction to Human Geography Lecture 1 Prof A.D. Ablo (PhD) Prof A. D. Ablo (PhD)  Aims To explain basic definitions of geography To explain the ‘what, where, when, why and how’ questions in geography To describe human geography as a distinctive field of geography To acquire skills in human geography (methods; specialisations) Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD)  What is Geography? Geography comprises the study of the Earth's surface as the home of the human race (Witherick et al., 2001). Geography comes from Greek ‘Geographia’, literally meaning ‘earth description’ Geography analyses the patterns of (human or natural) activities in space. Everything society does relates to space. What we do Describes the organization of space Explains the cause of that organization – Factors, processes Explains landscape changes Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD)  What is Geography? Geography studies place, space or the environment The essence of geography (shaded) is an integration of spatial variation over the Earth’s surface with the distinctiveness of places & interactions between people & their environments. Source: (Mathews & Herbert, 2008) Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD)  CENTRAL QUESTIONS IN GEOGRAPHY ❖What ?... ‘any phenomenon or activity (crime, disease, industrial, agricultural activity ; air and water pollution) that occurs or takes place in place or space. Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD)  CENTRAL QUESTIONS IN GEOGRAPHY ❖ Where?… Refers to places, spaces, or locations of activity of phenomenon being studied. These places, spaces, or locations vary in size E.g: village, town, region, country, earth Any activity that occupies space is studied by geographers Geography of Lagos, geography of Accra, geography of Tamale, geography of Ghana, Kenya etc. Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD)  CENTRAL QUESTIONS IN GEOGRAPHY ❖ Why?... deals with the reasons for some activities to occur in some places or areas but not in others. ❖When?... refers to time ❖How?... deals with the way activities or phenomena are studied ✓Approach of studies Simple activity requires a simple approach Complex activity requires a complex approach ❖ Geography has its own approach: methods: GIS, Maps, Cartography, scientific methods Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD)  HUMAN GEOGRAPHY DEFINITIONS ❖ Human Geography can be considered as ❖ ‘That part of the discipline of Geog. concerned with the spatial differentiation & organization of human activity & its interrelationships with the physical environment’ (Johnston et al, 2000, p. 353) ❖ ‘…a study of human groups and societies in their relationships to the physical environment’ (Demangeon) ❖ ‘…man-environment interaction & the modification brought about by Mankind’s attempt to use the resources in the environment as well as the opportunities & constraints involved in this interaction’ (Vidal de la Blache) Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD) Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD)  HUMAN GEOGRAPHY DEFINITIONS The two broad aims of geography are: 1. To examine mankind’s impact on the environment, whether positive or negative. 2. To examine factors behind the changes in the environment (i.e. set of biological & physical facts in space.) Thus human geography can be seen as ‘…a study of human society in relation to the earth background’ (White & Renner) Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD)  Methods of Studying Human Geography How do we study patterns stemming out of man-environment interaction? There are two key methods: 1. Systematic 2. Regional Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD)  Systematic Approach Involves analysing world or place feature by feature or theme by theme. Examples include: population, migration, industrialisation, agriculture, urbanisation etc It involves the analysis of the structure, characteristics, distribution, changes of each feature or theme Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD)  Regional Approach Synthesis of all features in each region. Region is any unit of space characterized by a distinctly different combination of many features (e.g. language, agric type or economy) “More or less bounded area possessing some sort of unity of organizing principle(s) that distinguish it from other regions” (Johnston et al, 2000) Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD) NOTE: Division between systematic and regional methods is based only on a difference in approach to geographic studies, the two branches are interdependent and are usually applied together. Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD)  Methods to Regional Geography ❖Philbrick listed 3 main basis of understanding human geography: 1. Physical; 2. Cultural Human 3. Human Cultural Organisation Man Ideas, beliefs ❖Each category covers a particular set of phenomenon ❖Each overlaps the other two ❖All the three represent the whole of geography Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD)  Methods to Regional Geography Physical aspects involves – Understanding the nature and distribution of material resources on which any human society draws much of the material basis of its existence. These are: Resources/materials from which food is produced; society is built or products manufactured as well as non-animal energy to supplement manpower for production. The importance of any resource depends on the way a society perceives it and this changes with time and with the state of knowledge of that Dr A. society. D. Ablo (PhD)  Methods to Regional Geography Cultural aspects involve knowledge through innovation and dispersion. – Ideas (concepts and beliefs) and values ( the motivation on which human societies base their decisions and actions) – The way of doing things: traditional vs. technological – Innovation, adaptations, and adoption of concepts provide new ways of doing things Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD)  Key Systematics in Geography ❖ Economic Geography studies spatial organization of economic activities e.g transport, manufacturing etc. ❖ Social geography studies spatial organization of social activities eg. population, health, health, political ❖ Physical geography studies spatial organization of the physical environment eg. soils, water. ❖ Agricultural geography studies spatial organization from the point of view of agriculture. Land uses theories and policies, evolution of agricultural systems and the significance of agriculture for human existence. ❖ Manufacturing/Industrial geography studies spatial organization from the point of view of manufacturing activities. Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD)  Key systematic in economic geography ❖ Transportation geography studies and develops theories of transportation development, network formation and transport and its relationship with economic development ❖ Tourism geography studies spatial organization from the point of view of tourism, recreation. ❖ Population geography studies spatial organization of population: census, density. ❖ Medical geography studies spatial organization from the point of view of health. ❖ Settlement geography studies spatial issues about human habitation Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD)  Key Systematic in Physical Geography ❖ Political geography studies interaction between political processes and geographical space. ❖ Historical geography studies the history of places and how they differ from each other. ❖ Geomorphology studies earth’s materials, structure and activities in the earth crust, landforms. ❖ Climatology studies weather and climate. ❖ Pedology or soil geography studies variations and distribution of soils and factors leading to that. ❖ Biogeography studies plants and their environments ❖ Hydrology studies water distribution and its management Dr A. D. Ablo (PhD)