Definitions of Human
Geography –
“Human geography is the synthetic study of relationship between
human societies and earth’s surface”.
“Human geography is the synthetic study of relationship between
human societies and earth’s surface”.
“Human geography is the study of
“the changing relationship
between the unresting man and the unstable earth.”
between the unresting man and the unstable earth.”
Human geography studies the
inter-relationship between the
physical environment and sociocultural environment created by
human beings through mutual interaction with each other.
physical environment and sociocultural environment created by
human beings through mutual interaction with each other.
The knowledge about Nature is
extremely important to develop
technology and technology loosens the shackles of environment
on human beings.
technology and technology loosens the shackles of environment
on human beings.
In the early stages of their
interaction with their natural
environment humans were greatly influenced by it. They adapted
to the dictates of Nature. This is so because the level of
technology was very low and the stage of human social
development was also primitive. This type of interaction between
primitive human society and strong forces of nature was
termed as environmental determinism.
environment humans were greatly influenced by it. They adapted
to the dictates of Nature. This is so because the level of
technology was very low and the stage of human social
development was also primitive. This type of interaction between
primitive human society and strong forces of nature was
termed as environmental determinism.
The people begin to understand
their environment and the forces
of nature with the passage of time. With social and cultural
development, humans develop better and more efficient
technology. The human activities create cultural landscape. The
imprints of human activities are created everywhere; health resorts
on highlands, huge urban sprawls, fields, orchards and pastures in
plains and rolling hills, ports on the coasts, oceanic routes on the
oceanic surface and satellites in the space. The earlier scholars
termed this as possibilism.
of nature with the passage of time. With social and cultural
development, humans develop better and more efficient
technology. The human activities create cultural landscape. The
imprints of human activities are created everywhere; health resorts
on highlands, huge urban sprawls, fields, orchards and pastures in
plains and rolling hills, ports on the coasts, oceanic routes on the
oceanic surface and satellites in the space. The earlier scholars
termed this as possibilism.
A geographer, Griffith Taylor introduced
another concept which
reflects a middle path between the two ideas of
environmental determinism and possibilism.
reflects a middle path between the two ideas of
environmental determinism and possibilism.
He termed it as Neodeterminism or stop and go determinism.
The concept shows that neither is there a situation of absolute
necessity (environmental determinism) nor is there a condition of
absolute freedom (possibilism). It means that human beings can
conquer nature by obeying it.