Topics
Human Geography - Nature and Scope
- Introduction to Human Geography
- Nature of Human Geography
- Fields and Sub-fields of Human Geography
- Overview of Human Geography - Nature and Scope
Unit I
Data – Its Source and Compilation
- What is Data?
- Need of Data
- Presentation of Data
- Sources of Data
- Sources of Data - Primary
- Sources of Data - Secondary
- Tabulation and Classification of Data
- Data Compilation and Presentation
- Processing of Data
- Grouping of Data
- Process of Classification
- Overview of Data – Its Source and Compilation
Population Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition
Human Settlements
The World Population Density, Distribution and Growth
- Population Distribution in the World
- Density of Population
- Factors Influencing the Distribution of the Population
- Population Growth and Growth Measures
- Components of Population Change
- Demographic Transition
- Population Control Measures
Unit II
Data Processing
- Mode
- Comparison of Mean, Median and Mode
- Methods of Measuring Dispersion
- Rank Correlation
- Direction of Correlation
- Method of Calculating Correlation
- Degree of Correlation
- Overview of Data Processing
Human Development
- Growth and Development
- Concept of Human Development
- Approaches of Human Development
- Measuring Human Development
- International Comparisons of Human Development
Unit III
Land Resources and Agriculture
Graphical Representation of Data
- General Rules for Drawing Graphs, Diagram and Maps
- Construction of Diagrams
- Classification of Thematic Maps Based on Method of Construction
- Overview of Graphical Representation of Data
Water Resources
Spatial Information Technology
- Spatial Information Technology
- Geographical Information System (GIS)
- Advantage of GIS Over Manual Methods
- Components of GIS
- Spatial Data Formats
- Sequences of GIS Activities
- Overview of Spatial Information Technology
Primary Activities
- Hunting and Gathering
- Pastoralism
- Agricultural Systems
- Mining
Map Work (Based on identification of features on World Political Map)
Unit I
Mineral and Energy Resources
Secondary Activities
Tertiary and Quaternary Activities
Unit II
Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context
Unit III
Transport, Communication and Trade
Transport and Communication
International Trade
International Trade
Unit IV
Unit V
Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems
Map Work (Based on locating and labelling on a political map of India)
Geography Practical II
Practical Record Book and Viva Voce
Estimated time: 10 minutes
CBSE: Class 12
Definitions: Human Geography
- “Human geography is the synthetic study of relationship between human societies and earth’s surface”. Ratzel
Synthesis has been emphasised in the above definition. - “Human geography is the study of the changing relationship between the unresting man and the unstable earth.” Ellen C. Semple
Dynamism in the relationship is the keyword in Semple’s definition. - “Conception resulting from a more synthetic knowledge of thephysical laws governing our earth and of the relations between the living beings which inhabit it”. Paul Vidal de la Blache
Human geography offers a new conception of the interrelationships between earth and human beings.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Nature and Importance of Human Geography
- Human Geography studies the relationship between the physical environment and the socio-cultural environment created by humans.
- Humans create cultural landscape (houses, cities, roads, industries, farms, ports, etc.) using natural resources.
- Environmental Determinism – In early times, humans were controlled by nature due to low technology and adapted to natural conditions.
- Possibilism – Nature provides opportunities, and humans use technology to modify and utilise nature for development.
- Neodeterminism (Stop and Go Determinism) – A middle path; humans can develop but within environmental limits without damaging nature.
- Excessive human control over nature has led to problems like global warming, ozone depletion, and environmental degradation.
- Different schools of thought in Human Geography:
a) Welfare approach – Focus on health, housing, education.
b) Radical approach – Studies inequality and poverty using Marxist ideas.
c) Behavioural approach – Focus on human perception and lived experiences.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Broad Stages and Thrust of Human Geography
| Period | Approach | Key Feature (Short Explanation) |
|---|---|---|
| Early Colonial Period | Exploration & Description | Focus on discovering new areas and describing regions for trade and imperial interests. |
| Later Colonial Period | Regional Analysis | Detailed study of regions; understanding parts to understand the whole world. |
| 1930s (Inter-War Period) | Areal Differentiation | Identified uniqueness of each region and how it differs from others. |
| Late 1950s–1960s | Spatial Organisation | Use of computers and statistics; quantitative revolution to find patterns in human activities. |
| 1970s | Humanistic, Radical & Behavioural Schools | Focus shifted to social issues, inequality, human experience and perception. |
| 1990s | Post-modernism | Questioned universal theories; emphasized importance of local context. |
| Overall Trend | Changing Thought | Shift from description → analysis → quantitative methods → human-centred approaches. |
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Human Geography and Sister Disciplines of Social Sciences
| Field of Human Geography | Main Subfields | Related Social Science |
|---|---|---|
| Social Geography | Behavioural, Cultural, Gender, Medical Geography | Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Epidemiology |
| Geography of Social Well-being | Welfare & Leisure Studies | Welfare Economics, Sociology |
| Urban Geography | Urban Studies | Urban Planning |
| Political Geography | Electoral & Military Geography | Political Science, Military Science |
| Population Geography | Study of Population | Demography |
| Settlement Geography | Rural & Urban Settlements | Urban/Rural Planning |
| Economic Geography | Resources, Agriculture, Industry, Trade, Tourism | Economics, Agricultural Science, Business, Commerce |
