Synopses & Reviews
The discipline of human geography encompasses an extraordinarily broad range of subject matter, from biology to philosophy, demography to politics, sociology to cultural studies, economics to environmental issues. The fourth edition of Human Geography by William Norton is no less wide-ranging. It offers a balanced introduction not only to concepts and methodologies but to the history of the discipline, emphasizing how human geography evolved--and continues to develop--in response to changing human needs, as well as its links with other disciplines. Generously and beautifully illustrated with maps, figures, tables, and photographs, this edition includes the most recent statistical information available and has been extensively revised to reflect recent developments, most notably the ongoing economic and cultural changes associated with the process of globalization.
Synopsis
The discipline of human geography encompasses an extraordinarily broad range of subject matter, from biology to philosophy, demography to politics, sociology to cultural studies, economics to environmental issues. The fourth edition of Human Geography by William Norton is no less wide-ranging. It offers a balanced introduction not only to concepts and methodologies but to the history of the discipline, emphasizing how human geography evolved--and continues to develop--in response to changing human needs, as well as its links with other disciplines. Generously and beautifully illustrated with maps, figures, tables, and photographs, this edition includes the most recent statistical information available and has been extensively revised to reflect recent developments, most notably the ongoing economic and cultural changes associated with the process of globalization.
Synopsis
The second edition of this introduction to the diverse field of human geography includes a fascinating account of the development of this discipline, and elaborates on its close tcpks to other areas of research. The emphasis on the aspects and basic principles of human geography, as well as the strong conceptual content and the eclectic focus of the book provide for an accessible and informative reading. Along with the revised empirical data, a number of substantial improvements have been made to the new edition. The discussion of environmental issues is more closely linked to the rest of the text and the accounts of cultural and social geography are expanded. An extensive glossary, list of suggested readings, new color maps and tables greatly enhance the clarity of Human Geography.
About the Author
William Norton has taught at the University of Manitoba since 1979, having previously taught at universities in South Africa, the U.S., and England. A well-published human geographer specializing in cultural and historical topics, William Norton has two previous books to his credit along with numerour journal articles.
Table of Contents
List of Figues
List of Tables
List of Boxes
Preface
To the Student
Introduction
Three Recurring Themes
Why Human Geography?
The Goal of Human Geography
The Human Geographer at Work
About This Book
About Being a Human Geographer
Summary
Writing to Peruse
Chapter 1 What Is Human Geography?
What This Chapter Is About
Preclassical Geography
Classical Geography
The Fifth to Fifteenth Centuries: Geography in Europe, China, and the Islamic World
The Age of European Exploration and Discovery
Geography Rethought
Institutionalization: 1874-1903
Prelude to the Present: 1903-70
Contemporary Geography
Postscript
Summary
Some Links to Other Chapters
Writing to Peruse
Chapter 2 Studying Human Geography
What This Chapter Is About
Philosophical Options
Human Geographic Concepts
Techniques of Analysis
A Concluding Question
Summary
Some Links to Other Chapters
Writings to Peruse
Chapter 3 The Earth: A Human Environment
What This Chapter Is About
Planet Earth
Physical Processes
Making the Physical Landscape
Global Environments
Life on Earth
Human Origins
Conclusion
Summary
Some Links to Other Chapters
Writings to Peruse
Chapter 4 The Earth: A Fragile Home
What This Chapter Is About
A Global Perspective
Humans as Simplifiers of Ecosystems
Environmental Ethics
Human Impacts
Earth's Vital Signs
Sustainability and Sustainable Development
Summary
Some Links to Other Chapters
Writings to Peruse
Chapter 5 The Human Population: History and Concepts
What This Chapter Is About
Fertility and Mortality
History of Population Growth
Explaining Population Growth
The Need for Better Explanations
Summary
Some Links to Other Chapters
Writings to Peruse
Chapter 6 The Human Population: An Unequal World
What This Chapter Is About
Distribution and Density
Migration
Refugees
The Less Developed World
Summary
Some Links to Other Chapters
Writing to Peruse
Chapter 7 Cultures: The Evolution and Regionalization of Landscape
What This Chapter Is About
A World Divided by Culture?
Humans in Groups
The Evolution of Culture
Cultural Regions
The Making of Cultural Landscapes
Language
Religion
Summary
Some Links to Other Chapters
Writings to Peruse
Chapter 8 Cultures: Symbolic and Social Landscapes
What This Chapter Is About
Rethinking Culture: A Symbolic View
Types of Society
Social Theory
Landscape as Place
Vernacular Regions
Ethnicity
Landscapes and Power Relations
Popular Culture and Folk Culture
Group Engineering
Summary
Some Links to Other Chapters
Writings to Peruse
Chapter 9 The Political World
What This Chapter Is About
State Creation
Geopolitics (and Geopolitik)
The Stability of States
The Role of the State
Elections: Geography Matters
The Geography of Peace and War
Summary
Some Links to Other Chapters
Writings to Peruse
Chapter 10 Agriculture
What This Chapter Is About
The Agricultural Location Problem
Distance, Land Value, and Land Use
World Agriculture: Origins, Evolution, and Regions
Contemporary Agricultural Landscapes
Summary
Some Links to Other Chapters
Writings to Peruse
Chapter 11 Settlement
What This Chapter Is About
Rural Settlement
Origins and Growth of Cities
Urban Locations: I. Historical Explanations
Urban Locations: II. Central Place Theory
Cities in the More Developed World
Cities in the Less Developed World
Summary
Some Links to other Chapters
Writings to Peruse
Chapter 12 Industry and Regional Development
What This Chapter Is About
The Industrial Location Problem
The Industrial Revolution
World Industrial Patterns
Industrial Restructuring
The Geography of Uneven Development
Summary
Some Links to Other Chapters
Writings to Peruse
Chapter 13 The Geography of Movement
What This Chapter Is About
Concepts of Distance and Space
Diffusion
Transportation
Trade
Summary
Some Links to Other Chapters
Writings to Peruse
Conclusion The Human Geography of the Future... and the Future of Human Geography
Changing Human Landscapes
Changing Human Geography
Being a Human Geographer: Where We Began
Summary
Writings to Peruse
Glossary
References
Index