Origin and Development of Geography

Origin and Development of Geography

The Beginning of Geography

• The word Geography was first used by the Greek scholar Eratosthenes (276–194 B.C.).

• The word Geography has been derived from two Greek words – Geo and Graphos, which jointly mean the description of Earth.

• The primary level arrangement of this subject was done by the Greeks.

Contributions of Greek Scholars

• Eratosthenes was the first who ttryto calculate the length of the equator and the circumference of the Earth. Hence, he is considered the Father of Geodesy and is called the Father of Geography. He wrote a geographical treatise, Geographica.

• Hecataeus was a Greek author. His famous book is Ges Periodos, meaning the description of the Earth.

• Hipparchus was the first person who divide the circle into 360° based on Assyrian Mathematics. He invented the Astrolabe to determine longitudes and latitudes.

• Aristotle was the first thinker who write about the spherical shape of the Earth based on sound reasoning.

• Ptolemy was the most famous Roman scholar of cartography and geography. His articles inspired geographers and researchers of the Great Ages of Discoveries (14th and 15th centuries A.D.) to discover the Terra Incognita (Unknown Lands).

• Strabo (64 B.C. – 36 A.D.) considered the Earth to be oblong.

• Pliny (23–79 A.D.) wrote the famous book Historia Naturalia.

• Thales was the first scholar who try to measure the Earth.

• Anaximander was the first to draw maps. He is regarded as the first cartographer.

• Thales and Anaximander are considered the Fathers of Mathematical Geography.

• According to Herodotus (Father of History), "All history must be treated geographically and all geography must be treated historically." He was the first scholar to draw meridians on the map.

The Dark Age (300 A.D. to 1200 A.D.)

• Considered the Dark Age in Christian countries due to the lack of important or revolutionary thoughts or discoveries.

Indian Contributions to Geography

Ancient Indian Texts

• In the Rig Veda (the oldest text in the world), there is a description of stars and five seasons in India.

Contributions of Indian Scholars

• Aryabhatta (476 A.D.): Described the Earth as spherical, calculated its circumference (24,835 miles), wrote Aryabhattiyam, and used the word ‘Bhugol’ in Surya Siddhanta.

• Varah Mihir (505–587 A.D.): Discussed solar and lunar eclipses, authored Panchasiddhantika.

• Brahmagupta (598–665 A.D.): Wrote Brahma Siddhanta and Khand Kavya, later translated into Arabic.

• Bhaskaracharya (1114–1185 A.D.): Authored Siddhanta Shiromani and Karanakutuhal, discussed gravitation, wrote Leelavati and Bijaganit.

• Ancient India was described as Jambu Dweep, with the eastern coast called Mahendra.

• Early Indian geographers believed the Prime Meridian passed through Ujjain.

Scientific Contributions in Cosmology

• To understand cosmology, British scientist Higgs propagated the concept of the God Particle in 1964, which was based on the ‘Boson theory’ of Satyendra Nath Bose of India.

Arab Contributions to Geography

Centers of Learning

• An educational institute, Baitul Hikma, was established under the patronage of Caliph Harun-al-Rashid of Baghdad.

Geographers and Works

• Al-Khwarizmi (813–883 A.D.) wrote a book named Sind Hind.

• Caliph Al-Mamun (1813 A.D.) got Ptolemy’s treatise translated into Arabic with the title Almagest.

• Kitab-al-Ashkal was the first climatic atlas prepared by Al-Balakhi.

• Al-Baruni wrote his famous book Kitab-al-Hind (Geography of India) in 1030 A.D.

  • The 11th Century is termed the Period of Al-Baruni.

  • His book Al-Qanun-al-Masudi was written in the same style as Ptolemy’s Almagest.

• Arab sailors were the first to present a seasonal account of the monsoon.

Great Travellers and Discoveries (13th–18th Century)

• Marco Polo (13th century): Travelled from the Mediterranean to the Pacific Ocean.

• Vasco-da-Gama (1498): Reached Calicut port in India via Cape of Good Hope, discovered a new sea route to India.

• Christopher Columbus: Discovered America, later named after Amerigo Vespucci.

• Magellan (1520 A.D.): Went around the whole world.

• Tasman: Discovered Tasmania, travelled to New Zealand.

• Capt. James Cook (1772–1775): Travelled around Antarctica; Roald Amundsen (1911): Discovered the South Pole and the Hawaiian Islands.

Renaissance Discoveries and Inventions

• Printing Press – about 1470 A.D.

• The Solar System – Copernicus (1543 A.D.)

• Telescope – Galileo (1609 A.D.)

• Works on Astronomy – Kepler

• Spheroid Shape of Earth – Newton

• Verenius laid the foundation of the dichotomy of Systematic and Regional Geography.

Modern Geography and Influential Geographers

Alexander Von Humboldt (1769–1859)

• Wrote the famous book Cosmos.

• Gave the idea to construct a canal across the Panama isthmus.

• Coined terms: Climatology, Permafrost.

• First, to depict isotherms on the map.

• Called:

  • Father of Climatology

  • Father of Modern Geography

  • Father of Vegetation Geography

Evolution of Geography as a Discipline

• Geography gained independent subject status in the 19th century.

• In the early 20th century, it evolved into the study of the mutual relationship between humans and the environment.

Key Theorists in Geography

Ratzel

• German geographer; Father of Political and Human Geography.

• Famous book: Anthropogeography.

• Introduced the Lebensraume concept (region where species evolve).

• Compared the state to an organism, emphasizing expansion of boundaries.

Vidal-de-la-Blache

• French geographer; founder of Possibilism.

• Considered the real founder of Human Geography.

Mackinder

• British geographer; gave Heartland Theory in Democratic Ideals and Reality (1919):

  "One who reigns in Eastern Europe will control the Heartland,
  one who reigns in Heartland will control the Continent,
  one who reigns in the Continent controls the World."

Carl Ortwin Sauer

• American geographer; Father of Cultural Geography.

Herbertson

• British geographer divided the world into 15 Natural Regions based on physical features, climate, and vegetation.

• Considered the first to study Natural Geography.

Final Thoughts

The origin and development of geography span centuries of exploration, observation, and intellectual curiosity. From the early contributions of Greek scholars like Eratosthenes, Ptolemy, and Aristotle to the advancements made by Indian mathematicians such as Aryabhatta and Bhaskaracharya, geography evolved as a profound study of the Earth and its phenomena.

The Arabs preserved and expanded geographical knowledge during the Dark Ages, while the Age of Exploration opened up new dimensions through global discoveries. The Renaissance ignited scientific reasoning and innovations like the telescope and printing press, helping solidify geography as a formal academic discipline.

In modern times, scholars such as Alexander von Humboldt, Ratzel, and Vidal-de-la-Blache redefined geography into specialized fields like climatology, human geography, and cultural geography. Today, geography is not just about maps and terrains—it’s a vital subject that connects nature, society, and science, offering insights into how we live and interact with the world around us.