Human Geography Nature and Scope | Geography for UPSC CSE PDF Download

INTRODUCTION

There are two approaches of geography
1. Systematic approach
2. Regional approach

Physical and human phenomena are described in metaphors using symbols from the human anatomy

Human Geography: “Human geography is the synthetic study of relationship between human societies and earth's surface”. 

Nature of Human Geography

1. Human geography studies the inter relationship between the physical environment and socio-cultural environment created by man.
2. Elements of physical are land, water, soil, climate, vegetation, fauna
3. Elements of cultural are transport and communication, settlements, crops

Naturalisation of Humans 

(a) Man interact with nature with the help of technology
(b) It is not important that what he creates but with what tools he used to create
(c) Technology indicates the level of cultural development of society
(d) Understanding the nature helps to create technology

(i) Understanding of friction and heat helped to discover fire
(ii) Understanding DNA helped to eradicate diseases
(iii) Laws of thermodynamics helped to develop fast planes
(iv) Knowledge about nature is extremely important to develop technology and technology loosens the shackles of environment on human being.
(v) The interaction between primitive society and nature is called  Environmental Determinism.

Humanization of Nature

1. With the development of technology people understood the nature well
2. They move from state of necessity to state of possibilities
3. Human activities created cultural landscape
4. so it is called as possibilism

Non-determinism/Stop and Go Determinism 
1. Developed by Griffith Taylor
2.It is a middle path between environmental determinism and possibilism
3. the concept shows that neither is there a situation of absolute necessity nor is there a condition of absolute freedom.
4. sustainable development is the main aim
5. The Neo determinism maintains balance between development and nature

Human Geography Through the Corridors of Time 

Schools of human geography

Welfare School
Concerned with social well being of the people
a. housing
b. Health
c. Education

Radical School: Concerned with causes of poverty, deprivation and social Inequality

Behavioural School: Given importance to lived experience, perception of space by Social categories

Stages Through Corridories of Time.