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INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY

Geography is defined as:

"the study of the diverse features on the earth's surface such as its relief, climate, vegetation, soils, economic resources, their description, development and distribution; and their interaction with man."

(R.O Buchanan, "Illustrated Dictionary of Geography")

Geography is the study of how man interacts with the environment.

Man refers to the human race (all human beings on earth).
The environment refers to the surroundings of man that is, the living things and non-living things such as air, water, plants, animals and buildings. The environment can help man to earn a living in various ways. Among these are agriculture, mining, fishing, hunting, recreation, settlement, lumbering, transport and communication.

Why do we study Geography?

Geography is important for a number of reasons:

"To gain knowledge about our environment and how to control it for both the present and the future generations."

"To understand and explain how man interacts with his surroundings."

"It helps us to be aware of the features within our environment, how they are formed, the benefits we get from them and the threats they pose."

"Geography provides useful skills for becoming a teacher, surveyor, planner, geologist and environmentalists, so as to earn a living."

The major branches of geography

Physical geography deals with the study of the earth's landscape and atmosphere.

It includes the study of:

- The shape of the landscape (called Geomorphology)

- Weather (called Meteorology)

- Climate (called Climatology)

- The location of plants and animals (called Biogeography)

- Rocks (called Geology)

Human geography deals with man's economic activities such as agriculture, commerce, tourism, industrialisation, transport, commerce.

It has the following sub-branches;

- Historical geography (How land use has changed over time)

- Cultural geography (How land is used in different cultures)

- Demography (the effect of changes in population)

- Economic geography (How man creates wealth from the environment)

- Social geography (How changes in society affect land use)

- Political geography (How politics affects land use)

- Settlement geography (How changes in our villages and towns affect the landscape)

Task 1: with the help of your teacher, find some pictures and photographs that illustrate the different branches of Geography and create a wall display.

Task 2: Carry out a local study

Look carefully at the area around your school. Write some notes and draw some sketch pictures about the Geography of the area.

These headings might help for your descriptions of:

1. The shape of the landscape (e.g. hills and valleys)
2. Water features - lakes and rivers

3. The type of vegetation - trees, bushes and plants

4. The type of farming - crops grown and animals reared.

5. How else do people make a living.

6. Describe the weather. How does it change from day to day? Does it change over the year e.g. are some months wet and some dry?

7. What sort of houses do people have? Do people live on farms, in villages or in towns?

8. How do they get about? Do they walk, ride bicycles, use motorbikes, buses or cars?

9. Do most people work locally or do some or many travel a long way to work?

NOTE:

It is important in Geography to keep accurate records.