human geography

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Human geography is a branch of geography that studies the diverse environments, places, and spaces of Earth's surface and their interactions with humans. It seeks to understand why things are located where they are and how human activities shape and are shaped by their surroundings.1

Human geography is broadly divided into several main areas:
* Economic geography: Examines the distribution of productive activities, trade patterns, and the impact of globalization on economic decisions.2
* Social geography: Focuses on societal divisions such as class, ethnicity, gender, and age, and investigates related inequalities and conflicts.2
* Cultural geography: Explores the interrelationships between people, societies, and their environments, including how cultures are created and transmitted.2
* Political geography: Deals with states, territories, external relations, and the relationships between governments and citizens.2
* Historical geography: Studies past human interactions with environments and places.2

These divisions are further complemented by concentrations on specific areas like urban geography and the application of geographical knowledge to real-world problems.23

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geography
Human geography
Since 1945 human geography has contained five main divisions. The first four—economic, social, cultural, and political—reflect both the main areas of contemporary life and the social science disciplines with which geographers interact (i.e., economics, sociology, anthropology, and political science and
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Since 1945 human geography has contained five main divisions. The first four—economic, social, cultural, and political—reflect both the main areas of contemporary life and the social science disciplines with which geographers interact (i.e., economics, sociology, anthropology, and political science and
Read More

geography
Human geography as locational analysis
In human geography, the new approach became known as “locational” or “spatial analysis” or, to some, “spatial science.” It focused on spatial organization, and its key concepts were embedded into the functional region—the tributary area of a major node, whether…
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In human geography, the new approach became known as “locational” or “spatial analysis” or, to some, “spatial science.” It focused on spatial organization, and its key concepts were embedded into the functional region—the tributary area of a major node, whether…
Read More