Highlights on Historical Developments

of Geography

Pre- Classical (Antiquity) & Classical Period
S.K. Kufogbe
GEOG 325
THEORY & PRACTICE OF GEOGRAPHY
LECTURE 1
Evolution of Theories & Concepts
Although geography has its roots in Classical Antiquity, its
development as a modern discipline crystallized in Europe,
and primarily in Germany during the period 1750 to 1850.

An analysis of the associated developments in Geography
in different parts of the world is thus an integral part of the
history of geographic thought


What, Where, When, How, Why
Early Ideas/Encyclopedic Approach
Travel,
Photos
National Geographic
Memorization
Towards What GOAL ?
To establish its position as a field of study among the Sciences
Some a priori Generalizations in Medieval
Geography (200 1400AD)
In place of objectivity, a host of legends, fancies and false
theories became the basis of geographical thought and
the truth was branded as heretical

William of Conches
He argued that the density of the atmosphere decreased
progressively from the earths surface upwards.
As a result, the higher air is clear and lucid and this area
provides the home for good angels and messengers of God to
man.
In contrast, the lower air is full of clouds and constitutes the
home of evil

Nilus Tanais
Occidens
Aphrica
(Ham)
EVROPA
(Sham)
ASIA
(Japhet)
Merdies Septentrio
Oriens
Paradise
Source: James P, & Martin G. (1972)


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T - IN O MAPS
Pre-classical Geography

Dominated by Greeks and Arab geographers/cosmologists Herodutus and Ibn
Khaldun

Objects of study were all kinds of phenomena whose differences/similarities in
different parts of the world made them appear significant to knowledge of the
world.

Strabo (64 BC- 20AD) considered that geographers should study both human
activities and natural conditions. The role of Geography was to describe the earth
and its different places, and in such descriptions both humanity and nature would
play a role

Bernhard Varenius (1622-50) whose Geographia Generalis was published in
Amsterdam in 1650, was one of the first scholars to suggest the essential
characters of physical and human geography. He also introduced the expressions
General/Systematic and Special/Regional geography as mutually interdependent
parts of a whole
Kant






The Geography of Classical Antiquity and the Renaissance
Primary Concerns of Strabo (64BC 21AD)
He argued that one of the primary concerns of geography is
to try to give, in the simplest possible way, the shape and size of that part
of the earth which falls within our map, indicating at the same time, what
the nature of that part is and what portion it is of the whole earth; for this
is the task proper of the geographer

He suggested that geographers must not write about what
they do not believe is true and correct.

He therefore criticized his predecessors such as Homer who
wrote myths rather than factual geography.

The Nature of Geography
Definition
Geography is derived from Greek, geo means the earth, and graphein means to write/describe ..Science?

The nature and content of geography can be defined as the study of the earths surface (biosphere), the space
within which the human population lives or simply as the study of the earth as the home of man

Uniqueness & Complexity of geographic reality

Features
Conditions
Locations & Distribution
Patterns & Associations
Interrelationships (Climate & Vegetation; Drainage & Landforms; Cultural Landscape; Drainage &
Landforms, etc)
Purpose
Geography is a study which looks at all of reality (HOLISTICALY) found within the earth surface from a particular
point of view, namely that of areal differentiation.
Geographers seek to provide explanations as to how and why places differ from or similar each other. This might
be called the position of geography as a field of knowledge.
Geographers study what is where, why there, and why care?


Object of Study
Since Science must deal with observable phenomena, geography, in order to be a
science, should limit itself to observable phenomena, and these it finds in the
visible "landscape"--or, if it is claimed that some things are observable but not
visible, geography must limit itself to material objects

Geographers insist however that the proper objects of study for geography are the
pieces of land, which he calls regions/areas. In order that these may be studied as
other scientists study their objects, arranging them in classifications of types and
developing scientific principles or laws about them, they must be concrete unitary
objects

The "mere description" of the character of a region, even with the addition of
interpretation, apparently, is not a problem.

Consequently, it is thought necessary to add the element of change in time, to
compare the situation of today with that of a previous time, to study the effects of
some particular change in one factor in a region upon the others, or, in general, to
make geography "dynamic" rather than "static."
General & Special Geographies
Varenius (1650) divided geography into
"general or universal geography" and
"special geography" or "chorography" or "Landerkunde in
Germany.

General/Universal geography provided general studies of
particular kinds of phenomena of the earth surface e.g.
Agriculture, weather, animals (biotic and a biotic)

Special geography looked at descriptions of many kinds of
phenomena found in particular areas called regions.
________________________________________________
The combination of the two methods caused more controversy
than any other single problem in the methodology of geography
Emmanuel Kant -1724++
The major contributor to the definition of the scope of modern geography
in the 18
th
century
Born 1724, lectured on physical geography in the University of
Konigsberg 1765-1769 and gave the course 48 times
His definition of the scope of modern geography has been described as
precise and comprehensive to the extent that it has greatly affected all
succeeding methodological discussion in the discipline. By this he
contributed very much to the definition of the scope and character of
Geography
Physical geography embraced the outer physical world, the earths
surface and its cover of life forms of plants, animals and man and his
works
Other Geographies
Mathematical measurement of the form, size and movement of the earth and its place in the solar
system
Moral different customs and xtics of mankind
Political study of the relationships between political units and their physical background
Commercial factors influencing surplus production or deficiency of some commodities in various
counties
Theological distribution of religions
Kants Physical Geography
Kants ideas built on Strabos (64BC 21AD) statement that:
Geography, in addition to its vast importance to social life and the art of
government...acquaints us with the occupants of the land and ocean and
the vegetation, fruits, and peculiarities of the various quarters of the
earth.
Physical geography is the essential understanding of our perceptions of
the world, whether received directly by travel or indirectly by reading.
It serves as a suitable arrangement for our perceptions, contributes to
our intellectual pleasure, and provides rich material for social discourse.
Knowledge is classified logically or physically:
Logically all individual items are collected into separate classes according
to similarities of morphological features
Physical classification collects individual items which belong to the same
time and same space
Kant not only included man as one of the features encompassed in the
earth surface but also considered man as one of the principal agents
affecting changes on the earth
Kant's "physical geography," both in purpose and in content, might be
considered as "anthropocentric".
Reine Geographie," or "pure geography
The study of Geography recognized the role/importance of boundaries to
operationalize the concept of area/region
The German tradition had about 400 political divisions
The evolving tradition of pure Geography in the 18
th
Century rejected Kants
division of the world using political boundaries and instead suggested natural
boundaries
Geography should consider its object, the world, in terms not of political
divisions but of more real and lasting divisions of nature. Geography should
divide the world by "natural boundaries" of "lands" rather than by political
boundaries of states.
Philippe Buache (1756) in France recognized the inadequacy of political divisions
for geographical descriptions and introduced the theory of the continuous
network of mountain systems following his study of the English channel. These
divisions could be made using mountain chains as boundaries
Gatterer (1775) in Germany made natural regions the basis of a physical division
of the world into lands and regions.
Such definite natural boundaries appeared to be provided by drainage basins
sharply separated by the network of mountains, and, of course, by the seas

Major Features of Pre-classical Era
Simple descriptions of the world (Cosmographic)
Phenomena causally connected by mutual relationships.
Organic and inorganic, as functional relations of parts of a single
whole: an earth organism
The birth of the concept of REGION as natural geographical
object
Definite geographical units, somehow defined in "natural or
political boundaries
Apparent dualisms (General/Special: Physical/Human:
Systematic/Regional)
Physical features in terms of their ultimate importance to man.
Set up a priori systems of facts without putting them to the test
(Inductive vrs Deductive Scientific Logic?

Emerging Traditions & Synthesis of Geography
Spatial analysis
Selected features are studied in the context of their location, spatial
arrangement or pattern, and their relationship to other features
Earth-human interrelationships (cultural/human ecology)
Focus upon cultural perceptions of and adaptation to
environmental conditions, resource potentials and use, and
environmental change
Cultural landscape approach
Human activities are studied in space and time for the purpose of better
understanding the human imprint on earth's surface
Regional concept
Used in identifying, describing, and explaining patterns of relative
homogeneity of spatial units on earth's surface.

*** Considerable overlap exists between and among the traditions.

Highlights
The Pre-classical period marks the beginning of
Geography as a modern science
Field of study
Methodology......... etc

There were great efforts by writers in the pre-
classical period to elevate Geography to be an
independent science or pure geography.

Writers in the Pre-classical period also stressed
that geography should study the world based
on natural divisions and not political divisions.

Geography, a jack of all trades?
Geography is a mother discipline from which other
disciplines like geodesy, meteorology, soil science, plant
ecology and regional science have emerged.

Geography has become an outward-looking discipline that has
frequently created new specializations.

This multidisciplinary perspective may be regarded both as
our raison detre and our life-raft in the sea of knowledge.
(Capelle, 1999, p.65). If the periphery seems interesting, why
not explore it; this will only widen the circle of geography
Personalities & Shifting Viewpoints
during Classical Period: 19-20
th
C
Alexander von Humboldt (1769 1859)
Carl Ritter ( 1779 - 1859)
Walter Hermann Bucher (1889 1965)
Osker Ferdinand Peschel (1826 1875)
Friedrich Ratzel (1844 1904)
Ferdinand Friherr von Richtofen (1883 1905)
Alfred Hettner ( 1859 1942)

Quiz ?
Expatiate on the definition of Geography as
the study of the earth as the home of man

Discuss the contribution of Emmanuel Kant to
the development of modern geography

Elaborate on the definition of geography as
the study of the earth as the home of man

Concepts and Personalities in the Development of
Geography during the Pre and Classical period
Concepts
Physical Geography
Regional Geography
Reine geographie
Systematic geography
General/Special Geography
Universal Geography
Pure geography
Regional network of boundaries
Erkunde
Landekunde
Environmental Determinism
Armchair Geography
Chorography
Cosmography
Comparative method


Key Personalities
Carl Ritter
Von Humboldt
Strabo
Varenius
Kant
R. Hardshorne
Anthropogeographie
Vidal de la Blache
Geographia Generalis


Next Lecture

Quantitative Revolution in Geography
(1940 1960)