Chapter 1 Human Geography Nature And Scope

Nature Of Human Geography

The core nature of human geography lies in understanding the intricate inter-relationship between the physical environment and the socio-cultural environment created by humans through their interactions. The physical environment comprises elements like landforms, soils, climate, water, vegetation, and wildlife. The socio-cultural environment includes everything humans have built or developed using resources from the physical environment, such as houses, cities, infrastructure (roads, railways), industries, farms, and various aspects of material culture.

The Naturalisation Of Humans

In the early stages of human existence, technology was rudimentary, and societies were primitive. Humans were heavily influenced and often controlled by their natural environment. They had to adapt strictly to Nature's conditions and limitations. This phase of human-environment interaction, characterized by low technological development and strong natural influence, is termed environmental determinism.

In this deterministic view, humans were essentially 'naturalised'. They were deeply attuned to nature, respecting its power, fearing its destructive forces, and often worshipping it. Their survival depended directly on natural resources, making the physical environment essentially 'Mother Nature' to them.

Illustration (based on Benda's story):

The story of Benda in the Abujh Maad area exemplifies this state. Living in isolation with simple technology (axe, shifting cultivation), Benda's tribe is completely dependent on the forest. They use ash for fertility, rely on Mahua trees, collect specific plants for sustenance and trade, and worship the forest spirits (Loi-Lugi). They fear outsiders and use their deep knowledge of the natural environment (thick canopy) to disappear and protect themselves. Their existence is dictated by the rhythms and resources of nature.

Humanisation Of Nature

As human societies developed culturally and socially, they also advanced technologically. This allowed humans to gain a better understanding of natural laws and develop more efficient tools and techniques. Technology enables humans to move away from a state of being entirely dictated by necessity towards a state of greater freedom.

With technological advancements, humans begin to create 'possibilities' using the resources provided by the environment. They modify the natural landscape, leaving their 'imprints' everywhere. This creation of a cultural landscape – visible human modifications like cities, farms, ports, and even satellites in space – signifies the 'humanisation' of nature. Nature starts bearing the marks of human effort and ingenuity. This concept, where nature offers opportunities that humans utilise, was earlier termed possibilism.

Illustration (based on Kari's story):

The story of Kari in Trondheim illustrates the humanisation of nature. Despite harsh natural conditions (fierce winds, heavy snow, dark winters), technology allows Kari a comfortable life. Special winter tyres, heated offices, glass domes over campuses controlling temperature and light, imported tropical fruits, fast transportation (flights), and global connectivity (networking with colleagues in New Delhi) demonstrate how technology helps overcome environmental constraints. Humans are not just adapting; they are actively shaping their immediate environment and lifestyle using technology to suit their needs.

Beyond the initial ideas of determinism and possibilism, a middle ground was proposed by geographer Griffith Taylor. He introduced the concept of Neodeterminism or Stop and Go Determinism. This perspective suggests that humans can indeed modify nature, but not without limits. It's like traffic signals:

• Red light: Means 'stop'. Indicates environmental limits or dangers that humans must respect.
• Amber light: Means 'get ready'. Suggests that possibilities can be explored, but cautiously.
• Green light: Means 'go'. Represents opportunities for development and modification offered by nature within sustainable boundaries.

Neodeterminism argues against both absolute necessity (determinism) and absolute freedom (possibilism). It implies that development should proceed in a way that obeys natural laws and does not cause irreversible damage. Unchecked exploitation, representing a 'free run', has led to severe environmental problems like the greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, global warming, and land degradation. Neodeterminism seeks to balance human aspirations with ecological responsibility.

Human Geography Through The Corridors Of Time

The interaction between humans and their environment, which forms the basis of human geography, has evolved over time, tracing back to the early appearance of humans. Thus, the roots of human geography are deep in history, and its concerns have changed over time, reflecting the dynamic nature of the discipline and varying approaches to studying the human-environment relationship.

Initially, interaction and knowledge between different societies were limited. Information was primarily disseminated by travellers and explorers, though navigation was risky. The late 15th century saw increased exploration, which helped dispel myths about different lands and people. The colonial era significantly boosted explorations, driven by the need to access resources and gather information about new territories.

The development of human geography can be seen through several broad stages and shifts in focus:

The 1970s saw the emergence of three significant schools of thought as a critique of the spatial organisation approach and quantitative revolution:

• Welfare or Humanistic School: Focused on the different aspects of social well-being of people, including housing, health, and education.
• Radical School: Used Marxian theory to analyse the root causes of social inequality, poverty, and deprivation, linking them to the development of capitalism.
• Behavioural School: Emphasised lived experiences and the perception of space by various social groups based on factors like ethnicity, race, and religion.

Fields And Sub-Fields Of Human Geography

Human geography is inherently inter-disciplinary because it attempts to explain the relationship between human life and the space it occupies. It draws heavily on and interacts closely with sister disciplines in social sciences to understand and explain human phenomena on Earth's surface. As knowledge expands, human geography has diversified into numerous fields and sub-fields, often with overlapping boundaries.

The following table illustrates some of the major fields and sub-fields within human geography and their connections to other social sciences:

This extensive list demonstrates the broad and expanding coverage of human geography, which explores diverse aspects of human life in their spatial context by collaborating with various social science disciplines.