Geography

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. 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. So the present definitions of Geography are. 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) 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) 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). Branches of Geography: There are two types of geography a) Human Geography b) Physical Geography Human Geography: Economic Geography, Political Geography, Social Geography, Cultural Geography, Racial Geography, Statistical Geography, etc. Physical or Economic Geography: Commercial Geography, Agricultural Gebgraphy, Mineral Geography, Industrial Geography, Geography of Means of Transportation, Geography of trade centers. 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: 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.