Geography and Environment · Classes 9-10 · Chapter 1
Concept of Geography.
You hear the word “geography” every day, yet the word is already a definition. Break it open and two smaller words fall out. And each geographer the book names grabs geography by one key word of his own.
1. Break the word open
As human habitat, the description of the earth is geography. That one line is the heart of the book; every other definition looks at it from a different side.
The word comes from two Greek words, 'geo' and 'graphy', which join to make 'geography'. Tap the two pieces and the joined word below to see what each means.
split the wordtap a dot
Geography = Geo + graphy
Geo. 'Geo' means earth.
graphy. 'graphy' means description.
Geography. Put the two together and 'Geography' means the description of the earth.
All three seen: earth + description = description of the earth.
2. Who said what
Eratosthenes was the first Greek scholar to use the term 'geography', for the study of the earth as human habitat.
British geographer Professor E. A. Macnee said, “geography is the study of environment of man both physical and social, particularly in its relation to human activities.” Another British geographer, L. Dudley Stamp, defined it as “a description of the world and of its inhabitants.”
German geographer Professor Carl Ritter said geography is concerned with the objects on the earth's surface around man; the Bangla book words it as “the science of the earth”. American geographer Professor Richard Hartshorne said, “geography provides accurate, orderly and rational description and interpretation of the variable character of the earth's surface.”
sort themput each saying in its geographer's box
Who said what
Pick up a saying, then drop it in a geographer's box. There are six boxes, so scroll down.
Right. Next one.
Not yet. Catch the key word of the saying: habitat, inhabitants, science, nature, variable character.
All in the right box. Each definition has its own key word.
The Academy of Science of Washington D.C. gave a definition of geography in 1965. According to it, geography searches for how the natural environment of the surface is organised and how human beings adjust themselves with these natural phenomena.
The German geographer Alexander von Humboldt is the founder of modern geography. For him, geography is a science related to nature, and it includes descriptions and discussions all belonging to nature.
the definersone year only
Definers of geography
Eratosthenes, a Greek geographer of ancient Greece: the first to use the term 'geography'.
Macnee, British: the study of earth as human habitat, with human activities in the physical and social environment.
Dudley Stamp, British: a description of the world and of its inhabitants.
Carl Ritter, German: geography is concerned with the objects on the earth's surface around man.
Richard Hartshorne, American: accurate, orderly and rational description of the variable character of the earth's surface.
1965: the definition of the Academy of Science, Washington D.C. Geography searches for how the natural environment is organised and how people adjust themselves to it.
Humboldt, German: the founder of modern geography. Geography is a science related to nature.
3. Man and environment
On the one hand, geography is natural science; on the other, it is environment and social science. Its main discussion topics are nature, environment and society, and people with their social, cultural, economic and political activities.
The natural environment of the earth influences people's way of living. Climate, physical features, natural vegetation, animals, rivers, seas and mineral resources influence the life of people in different ways.
It works the other way too. Human activities change the environment: homes, offices, roads, cities and ports are built; settlements like villages and towns are made by cutting forest; canals, wetlands and ponds are filled up.
See it with your own hands. Below is a stretch of river, wetland and forest. Do the four things the book says people do, one at a time.
human handspick an act
Who changes whom?
The picture shows the idea; its trees and houses are not a real count.
So there is an interaction between man and environment, and the action of cause and effect is the root of this relation. The main function of geography is to find out the cause of that interaction; a reasoned discussion of people's struggle to survive within the bounds of their environment is geography. Now sort who is influencing whom.
sort themcause and effect at the root
Interaction: who influences whom
Pick up a chip, then drop it in a box.
Right. Next one.
Not yet. Ask: is a person doing the act, or is nature shaping the way people live?
All in place. The natural environment shapes the way of living, and human activity changes the environment.
4. Check yourself
The first question is in the exam's style.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 1
Who called geography the "science of the earth"?
Macnee called geography the study of the earth as man's habitat, not the 'science of the earth'.
Stamp called it a description of the world and its inhabitants; the 'science of the earth' is Ritter's.
Right. The German geographer Professor Carl Ritter called geography the science of the earth.
Hartshorne described geography as an orderly, rational description of the earth's changing surface features.
In the second, pin down whose words they are.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 2
"Geography is the description of the earth and its inhabitants": whose statement is this?
Right. According to Dudley Stamp, geography is the description of the earth and its inhabitants.
Ritter called geography the science of the earth; he did not speak of a description of its inhabitants.
Hartshorne spoke of a rational description of the variable character of the earth's surface.
Macnee described geography as the study of the earth as the habitat of man.
The last goes back to the basics.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 3
The topics discussed in geography are-
i. The Physical environment of the earth ii. Human lifestyle iii. Relationship between physical environment and lifestyle
iii is also true: their mutual relation is also discussed. So this choice is incomplete.
ii is also true: human lifestyle is a topic of geography. So this choice is incomplete.
i is also true: the physical environment is a topic of geography. So this choice is incomplete.
Right. i, ii, iii true: the physical environment is a topic of geography. human lifestyle is a topic of geography. their mutual relation is also discussed.
The whole note on seven cards.
cut from the notetap to turn over
Seven cards
QuestionAccording to the book, what is geography?
AnswerAs human habitat, the description of the earth.
QuestionWhat is the meaning of 'Geography'?
AnswerThe description of the earth.
QuestionWho first used the word 'Geography'?
AnswerEratosthenes.
Question'Geography is a description of the world and of its inhabitants': whose words are these?
AnswerL. Dudley Stamp's.
QuestionWho is the founder of modern geography?
AnswerThe German geographer Alexander von Humboldt.
QuestionWhat lies at the root of the interaction between man and environment?
AnswerThe action of cause and effect.
QuestionWhat is the main function of geography?
AnswerTo find out the cause of the interaction between man and environment.
Source: Geography and Environment, Classes 9-10 (NCTB), Chapter 1 “Geography and Environment”, the “Concept of Geography” part.