Geography-Meaning and Scope (Teaching Exams) (Part – I)

The book 'The Pulse of Asia' was written by Ellsworth Huntington, who was renowned as a geologist, geographer, and climatologist. Huntington was a staunch supporter of determinism. He considered geography as a field of study focused on analyzing the influence of the natural environment on human life.
In his work Principles of Human Geography', he wrote that "the geographical distribution of humans depends more on climate and weather than on any other factor. Some of Huntington's major works are:
1. Civilization and Climate
2. Principles of Human Geography
3. Climatic Change: Its Nature and Causes
4. Earth and Sun
5. Human Habitat

E. Huntington supported the view that "The geographical distribution of man depends more on climate and weather than on any other factor."
Ellsworth Huntington is renowned as a geologist and climatologist.
He considered geography as a study focused on analyzing the influence of the environment on human life.
Among the elements of the natural environment, he regarded climate as the most powerful.

The major contribution to human geography, however, was made by Friedrich Ratzel. Ratzel gave central importance to 'man' in geographical studies and systematically explained the human–environment relationship.
He was the first person to use the terminology of Human Geography (Anthropogeography).

Ratzel is regarded as the founder of environmental determinism.
In his interpretation of the interaction between humans and nature, he emphasized natural forces as dominant and considered all human activities to be their outcomes.

Geographica is not related to Ptolemy. This treatise was written by Eratosthenes. Ptolemy, a (Roman geographer) and a great astronomer, wrote the famous book of astronomy Almagest (Through observations, explorations, and writings, Ptolemy made highly significant contributions in the fields of mathematical geography, cartography, and general geography.

His works were compiled in the book Almagest, which was written in the Arabic language. Other notable works of Ptolemy include – Geographia (Planetary Hypotheses (Analemma), and Geographike Syntaxis).