8/14/2014

KALYAN SIR: WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?

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WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?

KALYANSIR.COM
Today's Question

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SHALL WE KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD

GEOGRAPHY?

The word Geography has evolved from two Greek words.

Geo

The Earth

Graphein

To Write.

So Geography literally means To write about the earth.

In general term Geography is the study of the earth.
Hence we will be reading about the

Lithosphere Solid earth crust

Atmosphere - Gases

Hydrosphere Water

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KALYAN SIR: WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?

Greek Scholars are considered to be the earliest Geographers.

Hecate-us and Theophrastus are considered to be the earliest
geographers.
Kant defined Geography as the chorological science.
The word Geography was first used by Eratosthenes (Greek
scholar lived during 276195 BC).
Eratosthenes also credited for inventing the system of latitude
and longitude. (These are the Horizontal and Vertical imaginary
lines on the earth. We learn more about this in later chapters).

Eratosthenes was also the first person to calculate the

circumference of the earth.

Eratosthenes was the first person to calculate the tilt of the
Earth axis.

Eratosthenes,

one

person

credited

with

so

many

inventions. Isn't interesting?

The Word Geography

Latitudes and Longitudes

Circumference of earth

Earth Axis

Leap Day

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KALYAN SIR: WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?

There are 3 important theories with reference to the earth.

1.

Geocentric Theory

2.
3.

Heliocentric Theory
Planetary Motion Theory

(Theory is an analysis given by a scientist. On single aspect, more than one scientist tries to
explain his/her experiments/observations. Hence there are number of theories on various
aspects).
Now let us try to know what are the theories that related to the earth?

1.

Geocentric Theory: (Earth is at the centre).

This Theory is given by Ptolemy. (90 168 AD).

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KALYAN SIR: WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?

PTOLEMY

Ptolemy is the author of the book Geography.

According to this theory the earth is at the centre of the Solar system.
Note: The Sun and its Planets put together is
called the Solar system.

2.

Heliocentric Theory: (Sun is at the centre).

This theory is given by Copernicus. (Poland, 1473 1543 AD).

COPERNICUS

According to this theory the Sun is at the centre of the Solar System.

3.

Planetary Motion Theory:

This theory is given by Kepler. (Germany, 1571 1630 AD).

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KALYAN SIR: WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?

KEPLER

KALYANSIR.COM

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KALYAN SIR: WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?

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