Exploration and description

During the early colonial period, the approach of human geography was primarily focused on exploration and description. This period was characterized by the European colonial powers venturing into new territories and documenting their findings. Human geography, as a discipline, sought to understand and document the various aspects of the lands and people encountered during these explorations.

Exploration

- The early colonial period was marked by extensive exploration by European powers such as Spain, Portugal, France, and England.
- Explorers like Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Ferdinand Magellan embarked on voyages to discover new lands, trade routes, and resources.
- These explorations were driven by the desire for wealth, power, and the spread of Christianity.

Description

- Human geographers during this period focused on describing and documenting the physical and cultural characteristics of the newly encountered territories.
- They observed and recorded details about the landforms, climate, flora, and fauna of these regions.
- The indigenous people, their customs, languages, social structures, and economic activities were also meticulously described.
- These descriptions were crucial for the European powers to understand and exploit the resources and potential of the newly colonized territories.

Role of Maps

- Maps played a significant role in the exploration and description of new territories.
- Geographers created detailed maps that accurately depicted the coastlines, rivers, mountains, and other geographical features.
- These maps were used by explorers to navigate and by colonial powers to lay claim to territories.
- Maps also aided in the documentation and visualization of the physical and cultural characteristics of the newly encountered lands.

Legacy

- The approach of exploration and description during the early colonial period laid the foundation for the development of human geography as a discipline.
- The detailed observations and descriptions made by early geographers provided valuable insights into the diversity of the world.
- This approach also influenced subsequent geographical studies, leading to the development of more sophisticated methodologies and theories in the field of human geography.