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The word Geography is a combination
of two words Geo and Graphy Geo is a Greek word which
means The Earth and the word Graphy has been derived
from the word Graphen which means - Description So,
Geography means Description of the Earth. |
The study of Geography as a science of the Earth
began from very early times. However, its scope remained
limited, as its study was confined only to the environmental
conditions in which the ancients lived; with the advance
of the time man also began to study the effects of
environment on natural things. In those times, therefore,
Geography could be defined as: The science of description
of the Physical features of the Earth.
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The Modern Geographers tried their best to make the
subject more interesting and useful. They tried to
study geographical facts on scientific basis. The
ancient Geographer neglected the activities of man
on the Earth, unmindful of the fact that brings thousands
of changes for his development & prosperity in
the world. Thus, the modern Geography included the
activities of man on the Earth as an essential part
for the study of Geography.
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So the present definitions of Geography are.
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Geography is concerned to provide accurate, orderly
and rational description and interpretation of the
variable character of the Earth surface (Reference.
Perspective on the nature of Geography. R. Mastshorne-
P-21)
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Geography as a branch of knowledge has for its object
the description of the surface of the Earth as evidence
of man's relationship with the Earth surface the home
of man (International Geographical Congress
1908)
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Geography
as a whole is regarded as that department of knowledge
which studies the varied features of the Earth surface
as the environment of mankind. (Dr. Scott,
Ritter, Ratzel).
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Branches of Geography:
There are two types of geography
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a) Human Geography
b) Physical Geography
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Human Geography:
Economic Geography, Political Geography, Social Geography,
Cultural Geography, Racial Geography, Statistical
Geography, etc.
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Physical or Economic
Geography:
Commercial Geography, Agricultural Gebgraphy, Mineral
Geography, Industrial Geography, Geography of Means
of Transportation, Geography of trade centers.
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Scope of human, economic
and commercial Geography:
As the purpose and scope of Economic and Commercial
Geography is to study the factors responsible for
production and distribution of various commodities,
to study the trend of consumption, together with the
problems involved. Thus we can say that Economic and
Commercial Geography is mainly concerned with the
study of agriculture, minerals, industrial resources
and also means of transportation and trade centers
of the World. So more detailed explanation, about
the factors of production and distribution are as
follows:
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a) Study of Agricultural
Resources:
For the study of Economic and Commercial Geography
it is essential that causes for the production of
various agricultural products, are to be studied,
and also the factors responsible for the commerce
and trade of those products can not be neglected.
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b) Study of Minerals
Resources:
Minerals are also an important factor of commerce
and trade, because every country in the world is not
self sufficient in mineral resources, so in Economic
and Commercial Geography, we study about the production
and distribution of different minerals found in the
world.
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c) Study of Industrial
Resources:
Agricultural and minerals resources are mainly responsible
for industrial progress of an area, so industrial
progress can not be studied without the study of other
factors.
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d) Study of means of
Transportation:
Means of transportation also play an important role
for the progress of agricultural, minerals and industrial
resources, so without the study of means of transportation
study of other factors is not possible.
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e) Study of Trade Centers:
Trade centers also play an important role for the
trade or commerce of certain areas, because without
the study of various trade centers progress in trade
and commerce is not possible.
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