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Geography as a science

Seminar in geographyPresentation No. 2

Mgr. Soňa PatočkováSOŠ a Gymnázium Staré Město2011

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Content

• What is geography?• Definition of geography• History of geography• Geography as a science• Geography today

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What is geography?

• Geographia (Greek)– Geo (γεός)– Graphein (γράφειν)

• Geography is the science that studies landscape and relationships between landscape and humans.

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Definition of geography?

• Geography is the bridge between the human and physical sciences.

• Geography is the science that studies landscape and relationships between landscape and humans.

• Geography is the mother of all sciences.

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Geography as a science

• The subject of geography is landscape (landsphere)

• Landsphere:– Physical geographical sphere

• Atmosphere• Litosphere• Hydrosphere• Biosphere• Pedosphere

– Social (human) sphere

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Geography as a science

The parts of geography are:1. Physical geography2. Human (or social or cultural) geography

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Geography as a science

Physical geography– Atmosphere (climate zones, atmospheric pressure)– Biosphere (flora and fauna)– Hydrosphere (rivers and streams)– Litosphere (glaciers, plate tectonic)– Pedosphere (soil)

• Knowledge of physical geography of the planet is important for every serious student of the planet.

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Geography as a science

Human geography– Called as social or cultural geography– Combines economic and cultural geography to

explore the relationships between humans and their natural environment

– The study of interactions between human beings and their environment in particular places and across spatial areas.

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Physical geography

• Climatology and meteorology• Hydrology vs. hydrogeography• Geomorphology• Pedogeography• Biogeography

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Human geography

• Demography• Economic geography• Cultural geography• Industrial geography• Agriculture geography (land use)• Transportation geography• Geography of Recreation, Tourism and Sport

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History of geography

• Eratosthenes (276-194 BC)

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History of geography

• Pythagoras• Ptolemy• Marco Polo• Gerardus Mercator• Bernhardus Varenius• Alexander von

Humboldt

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Why is geography important?

• Understanding the connection between the environment and people

• Geographers understand conflict around the world because so many factors are involved

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How is the future of geography?

• Great!

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The End!