1.1: Introduction to Geography
Introduction to Geography Ultimately, the entire geography profession is focused on the spatial distribution of the physical and cultural world. Another strength of geography is that geographers study interrelationships between things. Maybe it's the interrelationship between river systems and soil, or climate and ecosystems, or even the connections between deforestation, species extinction, population growth, and poverty issues. Because of this, many geographers are trained in both physical and cultural geography. In fact, probably the biggest strength of the science of geography is the discipline's ability to study the world spatially and look for the interconnections between the physical and cultural environments. Most disciplines only focus on one or the other, but rarely the interconnectedness between both. |
What defines geography from other disciplines is twofold. Geography is usually divided into two main categories: physical geography and cultural geography. Physical geography is the spatial study of lithosphere (Earth), atmosphere and climate, hydrosphere (water), and biosphere. Cultural geography, sometimes called human geography, is the spatial study of human aspects of the planet such as demographics, culture, language, religion, geopolitics, agriculture, urbanization, and more. Each of these two categories can be subdivided further into more distinct sub-disciplines of geography. But geography’s strength comes from its unique, academic ability to study the world from both perspectives. Issues such as deforestation, desertification, climate change, mass extinction of species, urban sprawl, genetically modified food, gender equality, poverty, development, disaster response and mitigation, and terrorism, are all global and local issues in scale, impacting both the physical and cultural environments. Ultimately, the entire geography profession is focused on the spatial distribution of the physical and cultural world. Another strength of geography is that geographers study interrelationships between things. Maybe it's the interrelationship between river systems and soil, or climate and ecosystems, or even the connections between deforestation, species extinction, population growth, and poverty issues. Because of this, many geographers are trained in both physical and cultural geography. In fact, probably the biggest strength of the science of geography is the discipline's ability to study the world spatially and look for the interconnections between the physical and cultural
environments. Most disciplines only focus on one or the other, but rarely the interconnectedness between both.
environments. Most disciplines only focus on one or the other, but rarely the interconnectedness between both.
History of Geography A critical understanding of geography is important and just in a book covering geospatial technology, because the technology’s roots begin and are grounded around the concept and science of geography. Geography is often times called the “mother of all sciences.” That is because geography is one of the earliest known sciences, dating back to before the great philosophers. These historical geographers were the original great discoverers of new, undiscovered lands. These early discoverers drew maps, originally on cave walls, to show how they would migrate or navigate to these unknown lands. There is no single, linear historical pathway through the evolution of geography; rather, geography is something inherently human and something that has probably always existed in our species dating back to the original Homo-sapiens who migrated out of eastern Africa and into Europe, Asia, and beyond. Humans have always had a need and desire to explore their surroundings and even to expand their reach, and sometimes dominance, over new lands. |
It can be stated that modern geography probably originated from Western Europe in the 16th century as the region experienced economic and social growth nd upheaval through colonialism and navigation. This formalized discipline came about as sailing and trade routes across the great oceans become more common. This required new knowledge in navigation, mathematics, literacy, science, medicine, warfare, and of course, maps. A cartographer is someone who is skilled in the science and art of map-making. Some will argue that geography, and most other sciences, are a cultural construct of European dominance because spatial thinkers have existed throughout the world and throughout time.
Some have stated that modern geography moved from being a discipline of navigation to a more traditional science with the journey of Captain James Cook in 1769. During his voyage across the Pacific, his aims were more scientific in intent than previous explorers. But he too, just like Christopher Columbus, was funded by powerful nation-states with aspirations to acquire resources and wealth.
Some scholars in whom research the ideas of critical cartography have stated that modern mapping in fact is grounded in power, dominance, control, war, racism, and the dismantling of foreign cultures. The idea here is that maps historically, today, and in the future will play a powerful role in how we understand the world and the power lies in those who create those maps.
But it was Alexander von Humboldt and Carl Ritter who took the concept of the original geographic science to task and geography transitioned from a knowledge base of navigation to exploration. Both scholars wanted to understand the natural and human environments from a systematic and objective
perspective as a way to explain specific regions of the world. Over time, academic and institutionalized organizations of geographic research grew throughout Europe. The need for skilled geographers and cartographers grew evermore important to nation-states because they provided the powerful and elite
detailed surveys and spatial information about the physical and cultural environments they wanted to explore and exploit. This was especially true as
colonial powers desired the resources, natural and human, and prestige of controlling Africa in what became known as the “Scramble for Africa.” Some
critical theorists of geography and cartography have called geography an “imperial science,” as the discipline was used for power and
conquest.
Soon it was determined that the education curriculum of geography in schools and universities needed to be written not only to unify people within European nations, specifically Germany, France, and Britain, but to inform their citizenry of what their role in the larger world should be. Geography would help scholars better understand the physical and cultural environments along with justifying the importance and need for European empires. Geography transformed from a knowledge of navigation, to a knowledge of imperial exploration, and then to a discipline of imperial science. Sadly, many geographers took Charles Darwin’s ideas of evolution and natural selection and applied them to a perverted interpretation called social Darwinism. This idea, originally constructed by Economists in Europe, implies that natural selection could easily be applied to social and political concepts. It was Social Darwinism that coined the term “survival of the fittest,” not Charles Darwin. Under this hypothesis, natural selection could be used to justify the need for “stronger” nation-states or races to dominate over “weaker” nation-states and races.
This later grew into what is now called today, scientific racism and was a systematic problem throughout the discipline of geography. This racist and prejudice viewpoint gave European explorers and settlers with the idea that they were genetically superior to other races and were entitled and destined to expand their civilizations and belief systems. This included European settlers in the Americans or “New World.” After all, Europeans had been exploring and conquering other cultures for nearly 400 years by the early 1900s.
World War I and II caused a major shift in geographic thought. By this time, most of the world had been navigated, explored, and in essence, taken. Any new expansion would likely require colonial powers to concur solely each other. Many geographers played a leading role in advising national leaders on post war reconstruction and a new era of geography was born. Geographers understood the need to merge scientific thoughts in physical and cultural geography when trying to understand a region of the world and to value diversity and uniqueness within these regions grounded within spatial science.
Some have stated that modern geography moved from being a discipline of navigation to a more traditional science with the journey of Captain James Cook in 1769. During his voyage across the Pacific, his aims were more scientific in intent than previous explorers. But he too, just like Christopher Columbus, was funded by powerful nation-states with aspirations to acquire resources and wealth.
Some scholars in whom research the ideas of critical cartography have stated that modern mapping in fact is grounded in power, dominance, control, war, racism, and the dismantling of foreign cultures. The idea here is that maps historically, today, and in the future will play a powerful role in how we understand the world and the power lies in those who create those maps.
But it was Alexander von Humboldt and Carl Ritter who took the concept of the original geographic science to task and geography transitioned from a knowledge base of navigation to exploration. Both scholars wanted to understand the natural and human environments from a systematic and objective
perspective as a way to explain specific regions of the world. Over time, academic and institutionalized organizations of geographic research grew throughout Europe. The need for skilled geographers and cartographers grew evermore important to nation-states because they provided the powerful and elite
detailed surveys and spatial information about the physical and cultural environments they wanted to explore and exploit. This was especially true as
colonial powers desired the resources, natural and human, and prestige of controlling Africa in what became known as the “Scramble for Africa.” Some
critical theorists of geography and cartography have called geography an “imperial science,” as the discipline was used for power and
conquest.
Soon it was determined that the education curriculum of geography in schools and universities needed to be written not only to unify people within European nations, specifically Germany, France, and Britain, but to inform their citizenry of what their role in the larger world should be. Geography would help scholars better understand the physical and cultural environments along with justifying the importance and need for European empires. Geography transformed from a knowledge of navigation, to a knowledge of imperial exploration, and then to a discipline of imperial science. Sadly, many geographers took Charles Darwin’s ideas of evolution and natural selection and applied them to a perverted interpretation called social Darwinism. This idea, originally constructed by Economists in Europe, implies that natural selection could easily be applied to social and political concepts. It was Social Darwinism that coined the term “survival of the fittest,” not Charles Darwin. Under this hypothesis, natural selection could be used to justify the need for “stronger” nation-states or races to dominate over “weaker” nation-states and races.
This later grew into what is now called today, scientific racism and was a systematic problem throughout the discipline of geography. This racist and prejudice viewpoint gave European explorers and settlers with the idea that they were genetically superior to other races and were entitled and destined to expand their civilizations and belief systems. This included European settlers in the Americans or “New World.” After all, Europeans had been exploring and conquering other cultures for nearly 400 years by the early 1900s.
World War I and II caused a major shift in geographic thought. By this time, most of the world had been navigated, explored, and in essence, taken. Any new expansion would likely require colonial powers to concur solely each other. Many geographers played a leading role in advising national leaders on post war reconstruction and a new era of geography was born. Geographers understood the need to merge scientific thoughts in physical and cultural geography when trying to understand a region of the world and to value diversity and uniqueness within these regions grounded within spatial science.