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Geography
Geography is a field most frequently misconceived.
The truth is that it is far more than just memorizing place names, or plotting maps.
Though these certainly occupy an important part of it, it is crucial to grasp that additionally, Geography delineates two major perspectives, the spatial and ecological, complemented by historical and economic facets.
Geography has permeated into nearly every social study there is with related definitions popping up in every textbook.
So, there is more to geography than just landscapes, mountains, climates, rivers and people.
Here are some of the less conventional definitions: a social science that focuses on the spatial distribution of human and physical phenomena; the study of pattern and processes associated with the earth.
Historical geography seeks to understand how various societies across the globe came to realize their interaction with their local environment and surrounding.
Some residing in the United States perceive the term historical geography in a somewhat different manner.
To Carl Ortwin Sauer of the University of California, Berkley landscape and the cultures in it are construed only via the sum of their historical impacts covering physical, cultural, economic, political, environmental factors.
According to Sauer抯 theory, regional specialization is the only means of gaining sufficient expertise on regions of the world.
American geography in the mid-20th was shaped by Sauer's philosophy.
However, over the years the growing feeling of dissatisfaction was sensed among many geographers believing that the discipline was harmed as a result of Sauer抯 influence.
The consensus was that superfluous efforts were spent on data collection and classification, and too little on analysis and explanation.
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