Student: Peng Zhang

Student #:400092256
Yes, l believe we need to understand physical geography at the very beginning before
we get into regional geography.
Firstly, Physical geography is the study of our planet and its system, such as ecosystems,
climate, atmosphere and hydrology, which could tell us how we are affected by nature
in many ways and how can we plan better for the future. Knowing it is very important
for us, because you will have a general idea about the earth, and that will let you
communicate with other people more fluently. More than that, since we all live on the
earth, we all need to know it and understand it, it’s an entrance of geography. However,
for the regional geography, it focuses on the interaction of different culture and natural
geofactors in a specific landscape, which doesn’t give that general idea so if you get
directly into regional geography, you will be blinded by features of that certain area and
you will not know how people live in other area and the reasons. On the other hand,
regional geography has so much details to learn, if you study regions one by one, it may
cost you decades, then you will find out “oh, that’s how the people live all over the
earth”, and you still don’t know what the earth looks like, which is a very basic thing
for people. But if you start with physical geography, you will know that from day one,
and you will know what makes people live in that way, instead of knowing how people
live in that way firstly then figure out why do they live in that way, physical geography
provides a more logical method for you to understand the world.
Secondly, regional geography is not that trustable all the time, in 1950s, it was criticized
for its descriptiveness and the lack of theory. But physical geography doesn’t have the
same problem.
Thirdly, physical geography helps humanity develops much more than regional
geography does. Because it tells people how to choose place to live, what’s the best
way to live there, what should be aware. But regional geography just study the culture
of people who live there, which is the later story.
Finally, you just can’t skip physical geography, just like you want to eat an orange, you
will have to pill the skin off then eat, just like how you study geography, you will have
to know how the earth looks like, what weather it has, how much water it contains and
how creatures live there, then you get into details.
Rosenberg, M. (2019, February 26). What's Studied in Physical Geography? Retrieved
October 6, 2019, from https://www.thoughtco.com/physical-geography-overview-
1435345.
Regional geography. (2019, October 1). Retrieved October 6, 2019, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_geography.