DEFINITION OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Q.1 Define the concept of Human Geography. Mention the
nature of Human geography.
Ans. Human geography
studies: • “The relationship between the physical/natural and the human worlds,
• The spatial distributions of human phenomena and • How they come about, the
social and economic differences between different parts of the world”.
Q.2 What is the core concern of geography as a discipline?
Ans. The core concern
of geography is to understand the earth as home of human beings and to study
all those elements which have sustained them.
DUALISM
/ DIACHOTOMY in HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Q.3 Mention the any
three dualism in geography which started wide-ranging debates in the discipline
of geography.
Ans. The three dualism in geography which started
wide-ranging debates in the discipline of geography are: a. Whether geography
as a discipline should be a law making/theorising (nomothetic) or descriptive
(idiographic). b. Whether approach of the study should be regional or
systematic? c. Whether geographical phenomena be interpreted theoretically or
through historic-institutional approach?
Q.4 State any six examples of metaphors used to describe the
physical and human phenomena.
Ans. They are: i.
‘face’ of the earth, ii. ‘eye’ of the storm, iii. ‘mouth’ of the river, iv.
‘snout’ (nose) of the glacier, v. ‘neck’ of the isthmus vi. ‘profile’ of the
soil. vii. regions, villages, towns have been described as ‘organisms’. viii.
Networks of road, railways and water ways are described as “arteries of
circulation”.
Naturalization
of Humans or Environmental determinism
Q.5 Describe important features of the concept of
Natualisation of Humans. OR State the important characteristics of
environmental determinism approach of study of human geography.
Ans. Environmental
deterministic approach states that: a. Environment controls human actions and
activities. Humans were directly dependent on the natural environment.
[The elements of
physical environment are landforms, soils, climate, water, natural vegetation
and diverse flora and fauna. The elements of socio-cultural environment are
Houses, villages, cities, road-rail networks, industries, farms, ports and
items of our daily use which are created by human beings using the resources
provided by the physical environment.]
b. Humans were not free and they adapted according to the
nature. c. Humans were naturalized they were afraid of natural forces. d. It
states that human history, culture, life style, and stages of development are
influenced by the physical environment like climate, soil, relief, etc. e. It
considers human as passive agents, whose attitude, decision making is
influenced by physical environment. f. Example: the life of nomads or tribal
people living in mountains or forests.
Humanisation of Nature or Possibilism
Q.6 Describe important features of the concept of
Humanisation of Nature. OR State the important characteristics of possibilism
approach of human geography.
Ans. Possibilistic
approach states that: a. Humans were free to choose/decide. Nature did not
control him. b. The nature provided/offered opportunities/possibilities for
humans to exploit it for their benefits. c. It considered humans as active
agents rather than a passive one. d. It’s the technology, attitude, habits,
values of humans which influenced its action not the nature. e. The nature got
humanized.
Neodeterminism
or Stop and Go determinism.
Q.7 State the
important characteristics of concept of neodeterminism approach of human
geography. OR Which approach in the study of human geography was followed by
Griffith Taylor? State two characteristics of this approach.
Ans. Griffith Taylor
introduced the concept of neodeterminism of stop and go determinism. It states
that: a. Neither is there a situation of absolute necessity (environmental
determinism) nor is there a condition of absolute freedom (possibilism). b. It
states that nature has provided possibilities and scope for development but
also put limits on it. c. It means that human beings can conquer nature by
obeying it. They can continue in their pursuit of development when nature
permits. d. The neo-determinism conceptually attempts to bring a balance
nullifying the ‘either’ ‘or’ dichotomy.