Geography 101: Introduction to Geography

What do you think about geography? As a student, I personally think that learning geography is such a waste of time learning about something that people will not care about except for geologists. However, after I have done a lot of reading on geography, I realized that geography plays quite a role in our life. Everything that we learn from geography is all about us and where we live. Besides, every changes in this Earth can impact our social life, environment , and physical. But before we get further, we have to know what is geography and why is it important.

WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?

To begin with, Geography is the studies of Earth and science included the lands, the inhabitants, and the phenomena of the Earth. As a matter of fact, Geography has been called as “the world decipline” and “the bridge between human and physical science” because of its role and contribution that can impact both human and the nature it self. 

Human Geography & Physical Geography

In addition, Geography is divided into two main areas; the human geography and the physical geography.  First of all, human geography is or of the main areas of geography that focuses on the study of human society along with human patterns of living and processes that shaped human society. This human study also includes the study of politics, cultures, societies, and economic aspects. On the other hand, the second areas of geography studies which is physical geography or physiography focuses on Earth science. This study subjected to the study of Earth’s physical problems and the issues of the earth’s layers such as, lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and pedosphere. At the same time, physiography studies the patterns of biosphere for example, the studies of flora and faunas.

Understanding and Unity can make a difference in the World

REASONS TO STUDY GEOGRAPHY

There are a lot of reasons of why do we have to study geography. Firstly, as a human that live and the users of Earth’s resources, we have to understand the basic physical systems that affect everyday life. For examples, the relationship between Earth and Sun, water cycles, and ocean currents. Secondly, we have to learn the location of places and the physical and cultural characteristics of those paces in order to function more effectively in our increasingly interdependent world. Thirdly, learning geography to understand how the geography has played important roles in the evolution of people, their ideas, places, and environments compares to the past times. Fourthly, learning geography can develop the mental map of human’s community, province, region, territory, country, and the world so we can understand the ‘where’ of places and events. Fifth, learn and understand the process of human and physical systems arranged and sometimes changed the surface of the Earth. At the same time, understanding geography makes individuals to realise and to be able to make sensible judgements about matters involving relationships between the physical environment and the society. Moreover, learning geography will make people understand and aware of what is happening in the world such as, natural disasters. Therefore, by understanding this, people will be able to appreciate that Earth is the homeland of humankind and provide insight for wise management decisions about how the planet’s resources should be use. Thus, learning geography makes individuals to understand global interdependence and became better global citizens by keeping the mother Earth safe.

References

Geography - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved July 29, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography

Top 10 Reasons to Study Geography - The Canadian Council for Geographic Education Resources. (n.d.). The Canadian Council for Geographic Education (CCGE). Retrieved July 29, 2012, from http://www.ccge.org/resources/why_geography/top10.asp