Question

Explain the scope of human geography.

Hint:

To remember the scope, think of human geography as the study of 'where' and 'why' human activities are located where they are. Link its sub-fields to different aspects of human life: society, politics, economy, etc.

Answer 1

The scope of human geography is vast and interdisciplinary. It studies the inter-relationship between the physical environment and the socio-cultural environment created by human beings. It covers a wide range of sub-fields, including:
- Social Geography: Studies social phenomena in their spatial context, including topics like population, health, and education.
- Political Geography: Examines the spatial expression of political processes and how geography impacts politics (e.g., boundaries, states, geopolitics).
- Economic Geography: Focuses on the location, distribution, and spatial organization of economic activities (e.g., agriculture, industry, services).
- Population Geography: Deals with the study of population distribution, composition, migration, and growth.
- Settlement Geography: Studies the form of human settlements, their distribution, and the processes that shape them (rural and urban).
- Cultural Geography: Investigates the spatial variations in cultural traits like language, religion, and customs.