What is geography?
Geography is the study of the Earth’s surface, the people on it, and how they interact with the environment. The word comes from Greek: geo means earth and graphia means writing. Geography asks three questions: where is it, why is it there, and how does it affect people?
Branches of geography
| Branch | Studies | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Physical geography | Natural features and processes | Mountains, climate, rivers, soils, vegetation |
| Human geography | People and their activities | Population, settlement, farming, trade |
| Regional geography | A particular region in detail | East Africa, the Rift Valley |
| Practical geography | Skills and methods | Maps, photographs, surveying, statistics |
Importance of geography
Geography helps us to understand our environment and use it wisely, to plan the use of land and resources, to know other places and peoples, to prepare for disasters such as floods and drought, and to follow careers such as surveying, planning, meteorology, tourism and environmental management.
Relationship with other subjects
| Subject | Link with geography |
|---|---|
| Biology | Ecosystems, vegetation and wildlife |
| Physics | Weather, the atmosphere and the forces that shape the Earth |
| Chemistry | Minerals, rocks, soils and water |
| Mathematics | Map scales, statistics and surveying |
| History | Settlement and migration through time |
| Economics | Production, trade and resources |
| Agriculture | Soils, climate and land use |
Try itA geographical measure: population density
Geographers use numbers to describe places. Choose the number of people and the area.
Key terms
- Geography
- The study of the Earth’s surface and people’s relationship with it.
- Physical geography
- The study of natural features and processes.
- Human geography
- The study of people and their activities.
- Environment
- The surroundings in which people live.
Summary
- Geography is the study of the Earth and its people.
- Its branches are physical, human, regional and practical geography.
- It helps with planning, safety and careers.
- It is linked with many other subjects.