World Geography
The field of Geography.
Geography
--- The study of spatial variation of the earth.
• Dualism = Physical/Human relationship.
Four Traditions of Geography
• Spatial Tradition = locate & map
• Area Studies = Regional & Descriptive
• Cultural Environmental Tradition =
How people react to their environment.
• Earth Science = Study of the earth
geographically defined
Eratosthenes 276 B.C.
• “Father of Geography”
• Geo = Earth Graphy = Study of
• Responsible for circumference of the earth.
(26,700 mi.?) Actually 25,000 mi.
Ptolemy 1 A.D.
• Began mapping techniques
• Created Latitude & Longitude system.
Mercator 1650
• Cartographer = Map making
• Created maps for ocean navigators.
Carl Ritter 1830
• Human Geographer
• Related all his work to humans and how
they adapted to surroundings.
F. Ratzel 1900
• Political Geography
• Environmental Determinist = physical
environment is active agent in the
adjustment of man.
Wm. Morris Davis 1910
• Physical Geography
• Studied and mapped landforms =
Structure/process/stages
Others
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Varenius 1650
Von Humboldt 1776
J.H. Von Thunen
Strabo 63 B.C.
Carl Saur
Elsworth Huntington
Vidal de la Blache
Assignment
• Research one of the Geographers not
discussed in our notes.
• Write a two paragraph review of the
geographer.
• Explain the contributions made by your
geographer.