This Exam Covers the Following Topics

1. Introduction to Human Geography

• Geography as an integrative and empirical discipline
• Geography’s broad reach in studying events and phenomena over time and space
• Core concern: Earth as the home of human beings
• Link between physical and human geography

2. Human Geography Defined

• Definitions of human geography by key figures:
  • Ratzel: Synthetic study of the relationship between human societies and the earth’s surface
  • Ellen C. Semple: Changing relationship between man and the unstable earth
  • Paul Vidal de la Blache: Interrelationship between physical laws governing the earth and living beings

3. Nature of Human Geography

• Interaction between physical environment and socio-cultural environment
• Examples of human-made elements: cities, farms, industries, etc.
• Human modification of the physical environment

4. Metaphors in Human Geography

• Use of metaphors from human anatomy to describe geographical features:
  • “Face of the earth”
  • “Mouth of the river”
  • “Snout of the glacier”
  • “Arteries of circulation” for networks of transportation

5. Naturalization of Humans and Humanization of Nature

• Naturalization of humans:
  • Early human societies adapting to nature’s dictates (e.g., Benda’s tribe in Abujh Maad practicing shifting cultivation)
  • Environmental determinism: Primitive human society’s dependence on strong forces of nature
• Humanization of nature:
  • Human beings modifying the environment with the help of technology (e.g., Kari’s life in Trondheim)
  • Transition to possibilism: Nature provides opportunities; humans create possibilities

6. Theories in Human Geography

• Environmental Determinism:
  • Early theory suggesting human lives and actions are determined by their environment
  • Naturalized humans listening to and fearing nature
• Possibilism:
  • Nature provides opportunities, but humans can use technology to modify their environment
  • Humanization of nature through technological advancements (e.g., modern infrastructure, transportation)
• Neodeterminism (Stop and Go Determinism):
  • Introduced by Griffith Taylor
  • A balance between environmental determinism and possibilism
  • Humans can modify nature but must obey natural limits (e.g., traffic light analogy)

7. Stages and Thrust of Human Geography

• Exploration and Description:
  • Early colonial period: Focus on exploration and encyclopedic descriptions of new areas
• Regional Analysis:
  • Later colonial period: Studying regions to understand parts in totality
• Quantitative Revolution:
  • Post-war period: Application of statistical tools and models to study human phenomena
  • Use of computers and sophisticated statistical analysis
• Areal Differentiation:
  • Focus on understanding the uniqueness of regions
• Post-modernism in Geography:
  • Critique of grand generalizations and universal theories
  • Emphasis on local contexts and socio-political realities

8. Fields and Sub-fields of Human Geography

• Social Geography:
  • Study of social well-being (housing, health, education)
  • Link with sociology and other social sciences
• Behavioral Geography:
  • Study of lived experience and perception of space by different social categories (ethnicity, race, religion)
  • Psychological aspect of space and human geography
• Cultural Geography:
  • Examination of material and non-material culture and its interaction with geography
  • Strong interdisciplinary ties with anthropology
• Political Geography:
  • Study of political boundaries, governments, and geopolitics
  • Sub-field: Electoral Geography (study of voting patterns and political behavior)
• Urban Geography:
  • Study of spatial organization of cities, urbanization, and development
  • Relationship with urban planning and studies
• Population Geography:
  • Study of population distribution, demographics, and migration
• Medical Geography:
  • Study of the relationship between health and geography (e.g., distribution of diseases)
• Gender Geography:
  • Study of gender relations in geographical contexts, interdisciplinary links with sociology and women’s studies
• Geography of Resources:
  • Study of the spatial distribution and use of natural resources
  • Link with economics (resource economics)
• Geography of Agriculture:
  • Study of agricultural practices and their geographical distribution
• Military Geography:
  • Study of the relationship between geography and military strategies
  • Linked with defense studies and military science

9. Schools of Thought in Human Geography

• Welfare School:
  • Focus on social well-being and welfare geography (housing, health, and education)
• Radical School:
  • Marxist perspective on poverty, deprivation, and social inequality
  • Link between social problems and the development of capitalism
• Behavioral School:
  • Emphasis on perception of space by different social groups based on ethnicity, race, religion, etc.
  • Strong emphasis on lived experiences

10. Human-Environment Interaction: Real-life Examples

• Naturalization of humans (e.g., Benda’s tribe in central India adapting to forest life and natural resources)
• Humanization of nature (e.g., Kari in Trondheim overcoming environmental constraints using technology)

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