History of Human Geography

8 important questions on History of Human Geography

What was colonial expansion seen as?

A way to strengthen national power within Europe.

What happend to geography during the 'new' 19th century?

Geographical societies sprung up across the world for ’hobby scientists’ from the upper social classes, as well as some prominent scientists.

Charles Darwin joined the Royal Geographical Society in London in 1838.

Why did European explorers undertake journeys into the African interior?

Because they believed that they were 'civilizing' and Christianizing' the indigeous peoples they encounterd.

These expeditions aimed to map uncharted territories.
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When did geography become a subject in schools?

From the late 1800s.
  • this new geography sought to explain the human and natural features of the world

Why did the environmental determinism theory believe that areas in the tropics were less developed?

Because the warmer climate made it easier to survive, which meant people didn’t work as hard to ensure their survival, which led to less economic development.

What are obvious problems of the environmental determinism theory?

1. It cannot account for advanced and organized societies in the tropics, such as the Mayas, Aztec, and Incas, the Mughal empire, and the Kingdom of Benin, to name a few.

2. It doesn’t acknowledge human agency to overcome limitations of the environment – e.g. irrigation, terrace farming, greenhouses.

3. The theory legitimized colonialism and justified social inequalities.

What is the modern version of the enviromental development theory?

Possibilism.
  • the relationship between people and the environment is dynamic, complex and nuanced
  • there are different ways for societies to thrive
  • human actions, decisions, and innovations play a critical role in shaping societies

How can the sequence of events leading to modern human geography be charted?

From the early-modern navigation and exploration, to the ‘new’ geography of the late nineteenth century aiming to explain the human and natural features of the world, and how they interrelate, to contemporary geography split between social and natural science.

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

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