EGE+112+Development+of+Geographical+Thought

- This unit deals with the origin and development of Geography. - It trains students to see and think Geographically - It teaches the philosophy of Geography.
 * EGE 112 – DEVELOPMENT OF GEOGRAPHIC THOUGHT**
 * INTRODUCTION**

- Geography is among the oldest disciplines - As we are going to see, Geography is the “Queen of all sciences”. - Geography dates back to the time of the Greeks. - It has evolved since the time of the Greeks (antiquity) to the present. - Geography is more than being encyclopaedic (mere facts about places. - Geography is more than maps. - Maps are major tools used by Geographers to communicate. - Geography is more than travelling i.e. carrying out expeditions/fieldwork. - Though there is truth that Geographers travel a lot and carry out field work. - Geographers do critical observation and analyze phenomena over space. - Already said – Geography dates back to the time of the Greeks. - Word Geography coined by the Greeks – Eratosthenes. - Word Geography drawn from two words - **Geo** – meaning the earth - **Graphe(in)** – meaning to describe/write about the earth. - Literally, Geography means writing or describing the earth. - Traditionally defined – study of the earth as the home of man. - Geography is a discipline that deals with **spatial and temporal characteristics** of earth features (physical and human) and their inter-relationships amongst themselves and with human beings.
 * Meaning and Concerns of Geography**
 * Origin of Geography**

(i) **Spatial characteristics** (a) Area – areal characteristics (b) Location – latitude and longitude. Absolute and relative location (c ) Direction – north, south, east and west (d) Bearing (ii) **Temporal characteristics –** Changes over time – change of natural and human features over time. Features not static. Geographic not encyclopaedic – just about facts, it deals with changes.


 * Main Concerns of Geography**