Dimensions of Human Geography

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Human geography has been energized and replenished in a more decentered manner by multiple authors asking very different questions within the same subdisciplinary space. Some, like Alexander Von Humboldt, are seen as forbearers, but others, such as Friedrich Ratzel and Ellsworth Huntingdon are remembered more for how subsequent geographers disowned their ideas. Somewhat an exception to this is Paul Vidal de la Blache, who took up the chair of geography at the Sorbonne in 1898 and whose students became professors of geography at most of France's (then) 16 other universities. In this instance one could argue that a single leading figure established the terrain and direction of a national geographical tradition - at least for several subsequent generations. Of course there have been highly influential theorists and practitioners in every era, but human geography has been a remarkably open field, particularly since the 1960s, when especially diverse ideas and political practices found traction, and when links were made to anthropology, sociology, cultural studies, economics, and philosophy. This perspective helps explain how contemporary human geography has emerged as a complex and differentiated grouping of scholars and students, institutions and analytical sites, technologies and methodologies, journals and conferences, arguments and audiences - evidenced by the very diversity of entries covered in this encyclopedia. This is a comprehensive textbook that covers the topics typical to a course in Human Geography at the college level. The topics were presented in a logical and clear fashion.

Md. Ehsaan is a Senior Research Specialist with a particular focus on Human Geography. With an extensive educational background and years of professional experience, Ehsaan brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his work. Ehsaan's working experience spans over a decade, during which he has held notable positions in academia and research institutions. Throughout his career, Ehsaan has conducted extensive research on various topics within the Dimensions of Human Geography. His research interests primarily lie in the areas of population and health, migration, human settlements, environment and resources, changing paradigms, and the intricate relationship between man and ecology. Ehsaan has published numerous research papers in reputable academic journals, showcasing his rigorous analytical approach and innovative insights. He actively participates in national and international seminars and conferences, where he engages in meaningful discussions with fellow scholars, exchanging ideas and staying updated on the latest developments in the field.

Since 1945 human geography has contained five main divisions. The first four-economic, social, cultural, and political-reflect both the main areas of contemporary life and the social science disciplines with which geographers interact (i.e., economics, sociology, anthropology. and political science and international relations, respectively); the fifth is historical geography. All five have remained central, being joined in the mid- to late 20th century by concentrations on particular types of areas, notably urban. Research interests in specific regions have declined, and relatively few geographers now identify themselves as experts on a particular part of the world. Indeed, human geography has not had a linear trajectory of intellectual advances accompanied by more or less parallel diffusions as the subject was established and pursued around the world. Human geography has been energized and replenished in a more decentered manner by multiple authors asking very different questions within the same subdisciplinary space. Some, like Alexander Von Humboldt, are seen as forbearers, but others, such as Friedrich Ratzel and Ellsworth Huntingdon are remembered more for how subsequent geographers disowned their ideas. Somewhat an exception. to this is Paul Vidal de la Blache, who took up the chair of geography at the Sorbonne in 1898 and whose students became professors of geography at most of France's (then) 16 other universities. In this instance one could argue that a single leading figure established the terrain and direction of a national geographical tradition - at least for several subsequent generations. Of course there have been highly influential theorists and practitioners in every era, but human geography has been a remarkably open field, particularly since the 1960s, when especially diverse ideas and political practices found traction, and when links were made to anthropology, sociology, cultural studies, economics, and philosophy. This perspective helps explain how contemporary human geography has emerged as a complex and differentiated grouping of scholars and students, institutions and analytical sites, technologies and methodologies, journals and conferences, arguments and audiences - evidenced by the very diversity of entries covered in this encyclopedia. For what it is worth, and before discussing some rather more entangled stories about the discipline, it is worth briefly surveying current human geography at least in a surface scan of its various themes as they are represented in English-language academic publishing. Progress was chosen for this exercise not because it was deemed to be superior to other journals - it is not a representative sample because Progress has been Anglo-American dominated - but because above all other journals its aims most suited this exercise: to offer a genuinely comprehensive survey of geographical studies', covering all human geography (rather than just parts of it), with regional reviews and commissioned progress reports on areas of research concentration. Unlike older journals (often published by national geography associations) it is exclusively centered on human geography (with its sister publication, Progress in Physical Geography, covering the other 'half of the discipline). What it reveals is that contemporary human geography is indeed diverse. Some subdisciplines have had a constant presence (e.g., urban, economic), some have seen declining number of articles published since the 1990s (e.g., regional geography), while others came to prominence (cultural). Some have ebbed and flowed (e.g., rural) and others have remained constant even though according to some commentators and historians of the discipline their fall from theoretical favor had been presumed complete (e.g., spatial science, statistical techniques). Meanwhile, a more self-reflexive element is evident especially since the mid-1990s, focused on the philosophy and practice of human geography, ethics, methods, and links to nature.

This is a comprehensive textbook that covers the topics typical to a course in Human Geography at the college level. The topics were presented in a logical and clear fashion.

**Contents and Sample Pages**