Human Geography

Human Geography is the study of the interrelationships between the physical surroundings and the socio-cultural environment caused by human activity. Human beings constructed aspects such as villages, cities, transportation systems, and all other facets of material culture by utilising the resources offered by the physical surroundings. Thus, as Ellen Semple put it, “Human geography is the study of the evolving interaction between restless man and an unstable world.” 

What are the fields of Human Geography?

Fundamentals of Human Geography deal with various aspects of human life. However, many fields, such as economic geography, accumulate deeper insights into human life. Here are some of the fields of human geography:

• Social Geography
• Urban Geography
• Political Geography
• Pollution Geography
• Settlement Geography
• Economic Geography

Evolvement of Human Geography:

Human geography introspects every element related to human life. Humans use technology to engage with their physical world. This metric measures the extent to which a culture has developed. Technology is a measure of a society’s cultural evolution. Humans were heavily influenced by their natural surroundings during their early engagement with them. They adapted to nature’s dictates. This is because technology was primitive, and man’s social development was likewise basic. Environmental determinism was coined to describe this interplay between primitive human civilisation and strong natural forces.

Human beings are directly dependent on nature for their sustenance. The physical world becomes synonymous with “Mother Nature for such communities.” Humans produce more advanced and efficient technology due to social and cultural evolution. They progress from a position of necessity to one of liberty. They generate possibilities through the use of natural resources. Human activities contribute to the formation of cultural landscapes. Human activity leaves imprints everywhere: health resorts on the peaks, sprawling urban areas, crops, orchards, maritime routes on the ocean’s surface, and satellites in space. This was called possibilism by earlier researchers.

How is Neo-determinism an important part? 

Griffith Taylor, a geographer, proposed another idea that describes a midway path dividing environmental determinism for possibility. He coined “Neo Determinism” or “stop and go determinism.” The notion demonstrates no such thing as an unavoidable necessity (environmental determinism), nor is there an absolute condition of liberty (possibilism). By obeying nature, humans can conquer it. They must respond to red signals and may continue when nature’s pursuit of development allows for adjustments. That is to say, within the confines, possibilities can be built which are not harmful to the environment, and there is no such thing as an accident-free run.

Human Geography since the beginning:

The adaptation process, adjustment to and alteration of the environment began with spreading human people across the globe’s surface in various ecological niches. Thus, human geography’s issues have a long historical continuity, even if the methods used to define them have evolved over time. 

Human and Economic Geography throughout the time:

Early Colonial Period: Imperial and commercial interests motivated the discovery and exploration of new lands. The geographer’s account primarily included an encyclopaedic description of the area.

Later Colonial period: A comprehensive description of every feature of a region was conducted. The concept was that all regions were components of a larger whole, namely (the earth); thus, comprehending the parts in their entirety would study the whole.

The 1930s through the inter-war period: The emphasis was on establishing a region’s uniqueness and determining how and why it was distinct from others.

The late 1950s to the late 1960s: Computers and robust statistical techniques were prevalent in this era. Physics laws were frequently used to map and evaluate human phenomena. This period is referred to as the quantitative revolution. The primary goal was to uncover mappable patterns associated with various human activities.

The 1970s: In the 1970s, dissatisfaction with the quantitative movement and its dehumanised approach to geography resulted in three different schools of thought in human geography. The advent of these ideologies increased the relevance of human geography to socio political reality. Consult the box below for additional information on these ideologies.

The 1990s: The validity of broad generalisations and the application of universal theories to describe human conditions have been called into question. It was emphasised how critical it is to understand each local situation in its own right.

Conclusion:

Human Geography is the study of the interrelationships between the physical surroundings and the socio-cultural environment caused by human activity. Human beings constructed aspects such as villages, cities, transportation systems, and all other facets of material culture which has made the involvement of humans with the environment even more tangible. Though this has severely affected biodiversity and the physical environment, but, technological advancement has also led to better lifestyle amongst humans.