HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
ITS NATURE AND PERSPECTIVES
GEOGRAPHY AS A FIELD OF
STUDY
• Physical and human geography are
the two branches of study
•Spatial perspective is the unifying
bond and is illustrated with maps
•Spatial analysis of patterns and
processes
NOTABLE GEOGRAPHERS
• Herodotus – linked history
and geography
•Aristotle – possible relationships
between latitude, climate, and
population density
•Eratosthenes – father of geography;
calculated the circumference of Earth
NOTABLE GEOGRAPHERS
• Hipparchus – devised a grid system
to map the curved surface of Earth
•Ptolemy – created first gazetteer &
world’s first map; north at the top
NOTABLE GEOGRAPHERS
• Carl Sauer – possibilism – human
activity is determined by choices
that humans make rather than by
physical environments
KEY CONCEPTS: SPACE
• Absolute Space – it exists in the
aerial relations among
phenomena on Earth’s surface
•Relative Space – is perceptual: it
is socially produced and is subject
to continual change
KEY CONCEPTS: PLACE
• Refers to a location that has a
particular identity or value
•Value may vary depending on one’s
perspective
KEY CONCEPTS: SCALE
• Refers to the size of the area
studied
•Tutsis and Hutus in Rwanda
cannot be examined just by
looking at the country
GEOGRAPHIC SKILLS
Maps
•Properties
Size
Distance
Shape
Direction
•Types
Physical
Political
Special Interest
•Latitude and Longitude
GEOGRAPHIC SKILLS
Maps
•Demonstrate that all places on Earth
have their own distinctive properties
•Geographers disaggregate data to
analyze each component
GEOGRAPHIC SKILLS
• Interpretations
GEOGRAPHIC SKILLS
Region
•A part of Earth that displays
internal homogeneity and is
relatively distinct from surrounding
areas
GEOGRAPHIC SKILLS
Regionalization
•A special kind of classification in
which locations on Earth’s surface
are assigned to various regions,
which must be contiguous spatial
units
Simplifying device = historical period
Formal regions = classifying large
regions
Functional regions = spatial analysis
Vernacular regions = human landscapes
SOURCES OF DATA
• Field research
•Census data
•GIS
•ISS/Space Shuttle
photography