Lesson 1: Summary
Geography is the study of Earth’s physical features, environment, and human activities. The term comes from the Greek words “Geo” (Earth) and “Graphos” (writing), with Eratosthenes being the first to define it as the description of the Earth.
Geography has a broad and evolving scope, examining both natural elements like landforms, climate, and vegetation, and human aspects such as cultures, populations, and economies. It uses modern tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for precise data analysis.
The two main branches of geography are:
- Physical Geography: Focuses on natural features, including landforms (geomorphology), climate (climatology), and oceans (oceanography).
- Human Geography: Studies human activities, including cultural practices (cultural geography), population distribution (population geography), and economic systems (economic geography).
Geography integrates both physical and human perspectives, offering a comprehensive understanding of the Earth and its interconnected systems.