Introduction to Geography

The word ‘Geography’ is basically comprised of two words, ‘Geo’ and ‘graphy’. While ‘Geo’ comes from the Greek word ‘Gaea’, means ‘earth’, the ‘graphy’ part is originated from another Greek word ‘graphein’, which  literally means ‘to write about something’. Thus, Geography literally means ‘to write about the Earth.’

Geography can simply be defined as the description of the earth or a systematic study of the earth, which includes its physical features and the inhabitants. It is the study of the Earth, including its different features and environment including the impact of human activity on these factors and vice versa. It is a special field of science, which is devoted to the study of the distribution of land and water, the physical features, the inhabitants, and the phenomena of the planet Earth.  

Geography is often defined as a subject with two branches, namely physical geography and human geography. Physical geography deals with the study of the Earth, including its different features and patterns in the natural environment like the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere. On the other hand, human geography focuses on the study of patterns and processes that shape the human society. It deals with the study of people and their communities, cultures, economies and interactions with the environment.