Concepts: Histories of geography

Created by: P GREENWOOD
Created on: 06-01-17 21:18

On the one hand – ‘Big G’ Geography

Geography as elite and expert knowledge Occurs in libraries, monasteries, palaces – and then later in universities, scientific stations, official institutions A story of famous names and dates Inevitably – a story of ‘Geography’ from a Western perspe

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On the other hand – ‘small g’ geography

Geography as knowledges learnt and practised in everyday life, society, economy Occurs through trade, migrations, pilgrimages etc. Occurs as vernacular knowledge of localities and landscapes A largely-unrecorded story, not found in textbooks

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Difficult to avoid elements of a ‘Big G’ Geography story. BUT

necessary to remain critically aware, and, to an extent, sceptical about easy stories of progress, improvement etc. As with all subjects, the history of geography is often about the relation between knowledge and power.

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Eratosthenes (3rd Century BCE)

Geos (earth); Graphein (description) Ekumene

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Strabo (64/63 BC – ca. AD 24)

the geographer is “the person who attempts to describe parts of the earth” ‘Regional’ geography – for purposes of policy and trade

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Ptolomy (AD 90 – c. AD 168)

Locations (longitudes and latitudes) Merchants

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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

On the other hand – ‘small g’ geography

Back

Card 3

Front

Difficult to avoid elements of a ‘Big G’ Geography story. BUT

Back

Card 4

Front

Eratosthenes (3rd Century BCE)

Back

Card 5

Front

Strabo (64/63 BC – ca. AD 24)

Back

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Concepts: Histories of geography