Question

What do you mean by sub-fields? Mention the main sub-fields of human geography.

Hint:

To remember the sub-fields, link them to the major domains of social science: Social Geography (Sociology), Political Geography (Political Science), Economic Geography (Economics), etc. This helps in understanding the scope of each sub-field and their interdisciplinary nature.

Answer 1

Meaning of Sub-fields:
In any broad academic discipline, a 'sub-field' is a specialized area of study that focuses on a specific aspect or theme within that discipline. Human geography, being a vast field concerned with all aspects of human activity in spatial context, is divided into several sub-fields. These sub-fields allow for a more detailed and focused investigation of particular phenomena, while still being interconnected and contributing to the holistic understanding of the human-environment relationship.
Main Sub-fields of Human Geography:
The main sub-fields of human geography explore the spatial patterns and processes related to different facets of human life. The key sub-fields are:


Social Geography: This sub-field is concerned with the spatial dimensions of society and social phenomena. It studies topics like population distribution and density, health and disease patterns, social justice, crime, education, and the spatial aspects of social groups.
Political Geography: It studies the relationship between geography, power, and politics. It examines the spatial organization of political units such as states, the creation and significance of boundaries, electoral patterns, geopolitics, and conflicts over territory and resources.
Economic Geography: This sub-field focuses on the location, distribution, and spatial organization of economic activities. It includes the study of agriculture, industry, services, trade, transport, and resource management, seeking to understand why economic activities are located where they are.
Population Geography: This is the study of the ways in which spatial variations in the distribution, composition, migration, and growth of populations are related to the nature of places. It is closely related to demography.
Settlement Geography: This sub-field studies human settlements in their spatial context. It analyzes the site, situation, form, function, and hierarchy of both rural and urban settlements, and the processes that lead to their growth or decline.
Cultural Geography: It investigates the spatial distribution of cultural traits and practices, such as language, religion, ethnicity, customs, and identities. It explores how culture shapes landscapes and how landscapes, in turn, influence culture.