ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT

ENV 203/GEO 205: INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY

LECTURE 02

FALL SEMESTER 2019

PROFESSOR DR. MD. MIZANUR RAHMAN (RMR)

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 TODAY‟S LECTURE CONTENT…

THIS LECTURE WILL COVER…

1. History of Geography
2. Greek Period
3. Roman Period
4. Muslim Period
5. Modern Era
6. Man-Environment Interrelationship
7. Scientific Revolution

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF GEOGRAPHY…

The first truly geographical studies

occurred more than 4000 years ago
when explorers began traveling to
new lands.
The Chinese, Egyptian and
Phoenician civilizations were
beginning to explore the places and
spaces within and outside their
homelands.
The earliest evidence of geographic
explorations comes from the
archaeological discovery of a
Babylonian clay tablet map that
dates back to 2300 BC.

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

EARLY GREEK GEOGRAPHERS…

Eratosthenes
ERATOSTHENES…

The Greeks were the first civilization to practice

a form of Geography that was more than just
map making.
Greek philosophers and scientists were
interested in learning about spatial nature of
human and physical features found on the Earth.
Ancient Greek Scholar Eratosthenes first coined
the word „Geography‟.

World map
according to
Eratosthenes
Date: 194 BC

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

EARLY GREEK GEOGRAPHERS…

Eratosthenes

The Greeks defined Geography as „Description of

the Earth‟.
Eratosthenes (276-194BC) calculated the
equatorial circumference of the earth to be
40233 kilometers using simple geometric
relationship.
This primitive calculation was unusually
accurate. Modern satellite computed the
circumference to be 40072 kilometers.

Showing circumference of the

planet Earth.

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

Aristotle
EARLY GREEK GEOGRAPHERS…
ARISTOTLE & HERODOTUS…
Aristotle (384-322BC) hypothesized and
scientifically demonstrated that the Earth had a
spherical shape using evidence from
observations of lunar eclipses.
Herodotus (484-425BC) wrote a number of
Herodotus
volumes that described the Human and Physical
Geography of the various regions of the Persian
Empire.

World map according to

Herodotus

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

EARLY ROMAN GEOGRAPHERS…

Strabo
STRABO & PTOLEMY…

Greek accomplishments in Geography were

passed on to the Romans.

Strabo (64BC-20AD) wrote a 17 volume series

called „Geographia‟ in which he described the
cultural geographies of various societies found Ptolemy
from all over the world.

Ptolemy (100-178) contributed world map with

projection, coordinate system and locations for
some 8000 places on the earth.

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

EARLY ROMAN GEOGRAPHERS…

STRABO & PTOLEMY‟S WORLD MAP…

Strabo Ptolemy

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

MUSLIM GEOGRAPHERS…

Pilgrimage as well as trade in the vast Muslim empire needed

communication and navigational skills.
From the beginning of the seventh century, the knowledge of
geography was equally growing with the spread of Islam.

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

MUSLIM GEOGRAPHERS…

AL-BIRUNI
Al-Biruni
The Muslim Geographer Al-Biruni (973-1048) was
famous for Cartography, Geodesy and Mineralogy.

CONTRIBUTIONS

• Study of Map Projection.

• Cartographic techniques &
projecting a hemisphere on a plane.
• Formation of sedimentary rocks and
past geological changes.
• Kitab-al-Jawahir (Book of Precious
Stones)

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

Al-Idrisi
MUSLIM GEOGRAPHERS…

AL-IDRISI

The Muslim Geographer Al-Idrisi (1100-1165)

prepared a World map with description.

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

MUSLIM GEOGRAPHERS…
IBN-BATTUTAH

Ibn-Battutah (1305-1368) wrote Rihlah (Travels) based on

three decades of journey around the World.

Ibn-Battutah

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

EUROPEAN GEOGRAPHERS…
COLUMBUS Columbus

Christopher Columbus re-discovered America in

1492 and he was in search of a westward route
to Asia to access the sources of spices and other
oriental goods.

Four Voyages
of Columbus
Map of
Columbus

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

RENAISSANCE: GERMAN GEOGRAPHERS…

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804): Divided Geography into six sub

branches/disciplines.

Alexander Von Humboldt: Published KOSMOS (1844) which

examines the Geology and Physical Geography of the Earth.

Fredrich Ratzel: Theorized that the distribution and culture of

the Earth‟s various human populations was strongly
influenced by the nature.

Carl Ritter (1780-1859): Developed the concept of Regional

Geography.

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

FOUNDATION OF KNOWLEDGE…

Foundations of modern science

established during 17th Century.

Navigational tools and skills merely

facilitated scientific discovery.

Discussions of the relative merits of

different societies, cultures and
civilizations around the world.

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

RISE OF DIFFERENT VIEWS/THEORIES ON

MAN-ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIP…

Environmental Determinism
Possibilism

Neo-Determinism
Man

INTERRELATIONSHIP
Environment

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

PHYSICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINISM…

• Also Known as Climatic Determinism or Environmentalism.

• It‟s a Philosophical Concept.
• Origin of this Concept : 18-19th Century.

Main Theme of this Concept

Physical Environment (climate and terrain) is the active force

in shaping cultures and Man is a passive product.

Active Inactive
Force Control Force

Nature Man

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

PHYSICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINISM…
Name of some Determinists...
• Hippocrates
Examples • Aristotle
Of Determinists Beliefs…. • Strabo
• Charles Darwin
• Alexander von Humboldt
• Carl Ritter

• Temperate Climatic Region Produced…

Inventiveness, industriousness and democrat.

• Tropical Climatic Region Produced…

Lazy, unproductive, angry persons.

• People of the mountains…

Simple, backward, conservative, freedom loving.

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

POSSIBILISM…

• Also Known as Environmental Possibilism.

• Origin of this Concept : Since 1930.
When E.D. has declined.
Possibilism has taken it‟s place.

Main Theme of this Concept

Nature offers some possibilities among the Man and they pick
up one or more from several possibilities according to their
needs, habits, choices and their demands.

Inactive Active
Force Force

Nature Man

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

POSSIBILISM…
Name of some Possibilists…
• Vidal de la Blache
Examples • Jean Brunhes
Of Possibilists Beliefs…. • de Martonne
• Albert Demangeon
• Lucien Febvre

• Humid Climatic Region…(Not comfortable for living)

Air Conditioner can solve this problem.

• Lack of water for agriculture…

Construction of Dam/Barrage can solve this problem.

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

NEO-DETERMINISM…

• Modern Ecological View.

• Also Known as Present Day Determinism.
• Neo Determinists use the terminology - “Influence”.

Main Theme of this Concept

Man influenced by Nature and Nature also influenced by Man.
Man and Nature both of them are influenced
(or controlled) by each other.

Active Active
Force Influence Force

Nature Man

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

NEO-DETERMINISM…

Examples
Of Neo-Determinists Beliefs….

• Agriculture in Desert Area…(Not possible)

Nature controls Man.
But……
It is partially possible… Arafat Ground.

Name of some Neo-Determinists…

• Griffith Taylor
• Preston James

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY

SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION…

18th Century: Era of European

enlightenment.

20th Century: Geographic

Information Systems (GIS) and
Remote Sensing (RS)
Application.

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University
 Thanks

Department of Environmental Science and Management

Course No. ENV 203/GEO 205
North South University