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The meaning of Geography معنى
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What does the word geography mean?
The word
geography was invented by the ancient Greek scholar Eratosthenes and literally
means “writing about the earth.” The word can be divided into two parts-geo and
graphy. Geo means the earth and graphy refers to writing.
Of course, geography today means much more than writing about the earth
but it’s a difficult discipline to define. Many geographers have done their
best to define geography using a few words but a typical dictionary definition
today reads, “The science of the earth’s physical features, resources, climate,
population, etc.”
An Overview of Geography :
The science of geography is likely the oldest of all sciences. Geography
is the answer to the question that the earliest humans asked, “What’s over
there?” Exploration and the discovery of new places, new cultures, and new
ideas have always been basic components of geography.
Thus, geography is often called the “mother of all sciences” as studying
other people and other places led to other scientific fields such as biology,
anthropology, geology, mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, among others. (See
other Definitions of Geogra phy).
Definitions of Geography :
Many famous geographers and non-geographers have attempted to define the
discipline in a few short words. The concept of geography has also changed
throughout the ages, making a definition for such a dynamic and
all-encompassing subject difficult. With the help of Gregg Wassmansdorf, here
are some ideas about geography from throughout the ages:
“The purpose of geography is to provide ‘a view of the whole’ earth by
mapping the location of places.” - Ptolemy, 150 CE
“Synoptic discipline synthesizing findings of other sciences through the
concept of Raum (area or space).” - Immanuel Kant, c. 1780
“Synoptic discipline synthesizing findings of other sciences through the
concept of Raum (area or space).” - Immanuel Kant, c. 1780
“Synthesizing discipline to connect the general with the special through
measurement, mapping, and a regional emphasis.” - Alexander von Humboldt, 1845
“Man in society and local variations in environment.” - Halford Mackinder,
1887.
“How environment apparently controls human behavior.” - Ellen Semple, c.
1911.
“Study of human ecology; adjustment of man to natural surroundings.” - Harland Barrows, 1923.
“The science concerned with the formulation of the laws governing the spatial distribution of certain features on the surface of the earth.” - Fred Schaefer, 1953.
“To provide accurate, orderly,
and rational description and interpretation of the variable character of the
earth surface.” - Richard Hartshorne, 1959
“Geography is both science and art” - H.C. Darby, 1962
“To understand the earth as the world of man” - J.O.M. Broek, 1965
“Geography is fundamentally the regional or chorological science of the
surface of the earth.” - Robert E. Dickinson ,
1969
Study Q,f variations in phenomena from place to place.” - Holt-Jensen,
1980.
concerned with the locational or spatial variation in both physical and
human phenomena at the earth’s surface” - Martin Kenzer, 1989. “Geography is
the study of earth as the home of people” - Yi-Fu Tuan, 1991
“Geography is the study of the patterns and processes of human (built)
and environmental (natural) landscapes, where landscapes comprise real
(objective) and perceived (subjective) space.” - Gregg Wassmansdorf, 1995
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