Geography literally means ‘Geo graphy’ i.e. description of the earth. This meaning of Geography is comprehensive as well as vague, because description of the earth includes innumerable things. Therefore, in geography, we study the earth as the home of man. Thus, Prof. E.A. Macnee defines Geography in the following words:
“Geography is the study of the earth as the home of man, or, in the other words, Geography is the study of the environment of man, physical and social, particularly in its relation to human activities
Preofessor J. Fairgrieve has defined geography as ‘the description of the earth’. Later on, Prof. Fairgrieve himself revised his definition in order to include the developing subject-matter of geography. Consequently, he defined geography in the following words:
“Geography is the science which treats the relation between the earth and man.”
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Or
“Geography is the science which treats of the influence on the man of local conditions and space relations.”
These definitions very clearly bring to light the influence of environment. Thus, there is an interaction between man and environment. In view of this, Prof. L. Dudley Stamp has defined geography as under:
Geography is “a description of the world and of its inhabitants.”
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This definition very clearly indicates that geography takes into consideration the human factor. It is, in fact, not only the study of the physical factors and environment but also the study of human activities carried out in relation to environment.
Modern Concept
There has been a change in the concept of Geography which has been expressed in the following definition:
“The old Geography worked from effect to cause, modern Geography works from cause to effect.” -L. Dudlay Stamp
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This modern concept of Geography is the result of certain stages of development. Now, Geography does not confine itself to learning by heart certain facts of knowledge. In fact, Geography today is a combination of art and science. It is also intimately related to other social sciences.
Its scope of study is broad and comprehensive. Modern Geography emphasizes cause and effect relationship that is going on in nature. Thus, Geography has well established itself as science.