Lesson 2: Geography, Demography, and History PDF

DISCIPLINES OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES The Backdrop of the Human Condition Dear Learner, in this lesson, you will learn about the different disciplines that belong to the social sciences. At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to: 1. Understand the historical dev...

DISCIPLINES OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES The Backdrop of the Human Condition Dear Learner, in this lesson, you will learn about the different disciplines that belong to the social sciences. At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to: 1. Understand the historical development of geography, demography, and history as social sciences; 2. Identify the subfields under geography, demography, and history; and 3. Explain the importance of these disciplines as fields of study and practice.  GEOGRPAHY  Greek words Geo – earth and Graphos – description  The primary concern of geography is the physical characteristics of the earth.  These characteristics dictate the interactions between humans and their environment.  Geography is concerned with two things – the physical aspects of the earth and explaining how the earth affects mobility, outcomes, and interactions of individuals and societies across regions.  GEOGRPAHY  The study of geography dates back to ancient times. Chinese Civilizations – dynasties had geographical survey of the provinces of ancient China. Eratosthenes – the first person to calculate the circumference of the world with close accuracy, thus earning the title “Father of Geography.” Strabo – Roman scholar who wrote “Geographica,” a seventeen volume encyclopedic description of the world. Ptolemy – Roman who argued that mathematics is highly essential in studying geography GEOGRPAHY The Age of Exploration – 13th to 17th Century GEOGRPAHY European navigations and expansion of territory MARCO POLO FERDINAND MAGELLAN CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS VASCO DE GAMA  DEMOGRAPHY Hauser and Duncan (1959) define demography as “the study of the size, territorial, distribution, and components of population, the changes therein, and the components of such changes.” To put it simply, demography is the science of population.  DEMOGRAPHY  The conduct of censuses dates back to the ancient civilizations. Persian empire conducted census from 500 -499 BCE Han dynasty in China conducted census throughout the region for land grants and taxation, and male recruitments for military. Ming dynasty – data includes sex, age, and relationship to household  DEMOGRAPHY  In 1086, William I of England undertook what may be Britain’s most famous census. Domesday Book – accounted for and evaluated all taxable lands and resources in the Kingdom of England.  Thomas Malthus – Essay on Population He probed the impact of a great increase in population on human welfare. Malthus famously projected that the population was growing at a geometric rate while food supply was only growing in arithmetic rate.  HISTORY  The Greek philosopher Thucydides described history as “philosophy teaching by example.”  William A. Williams “history is the best way to figure out the way the world ticked.”  HISTORY  In any society, a clear understanding of history is imperative because it enables us to draw lessons from the past and shape our present and future.  History is not a mere regurgitation of names, dates, events, and figures, but rather a painstaking analysis of the past for the purpose of understanding the meaning and dynamics of the development of human society.  HISTORY  History has lexical origins in French word histoire, the Latin word historia, or Greek word istoria. These words refer to the stories, accounts, and knowledge of past events.  Historiography – the process by which historical data and events are critically examined using specific sources, techniques, and approaches.  Primary sources – actual record that have survived from the past – and other pieces of evidence to research and then write history.  HISTORY  History was handed down through the spoken word until the invention of writing. Sumerian civilization – was first to devised a style of writing known as cuneiform and believed to be the weavers of the first historical narratives. Chinese dynasties – created historical records and wrote comprehensive accounts of Chinese history. Herodotus – “Father of History” study of the past and explained the cause and effect of events. Wrote the Histories – lengthy account of the Greco-Persian war.