DEVELOPMENT OF

GEOGRAPHIC

THOUGHT Modern Age

Carl Ritter (1779-1859)

A German geographer

Specialized in the theory and writing of geography.

Founded modern geography and is known as one of the fathers of modern geographical science.

Wrote Geography of the Earth World, based on his extensive travels.

Carl Ritter (1779-1859)

Geography was a kind of physiology and comparative anatomy of the earth: rivers, mountains, glaciers, etc., were so many distinct organs, each with its own appropriate functions; and, as his physical frame is the basis of the man, determinative to a large extent of his life, so the structure of each country is a leading element in the historic progress of the nation."

Alexander von Humboldt

Considered as the Father of Geophysics, combining geography and astronomy

Explored the tropical parts of South and Central America.

Material from his observations in the Americas were enough to fill 29 volumes. Published over a fifty-year period, and

contained 1429 maps and drawings.

Wrote the famous book Cosmos

Race to the Poles

The largest blank areas on the map in the late 18th century were in the Polar

Regions.

Antarctica had never been seen by man.

Exploring expeditions had penetrated only the margins of the Arctic.

The Arctic Explorers

THE ARCTIC

The ocean is covered by what is called as drift ice.

This is composed of great masses of ice, called ice floes, moved by winds and ocean

currents.

Arctic Explorers

At first, the Arctic explorers were seeking the Northwest Passage or the Northeast

Passage.

Later on, expeditions were sent to reach the North Pole.

Robert Peary

877: Graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine, worked as a local surveyor, and later worked with the US Coast and Geodetic Survey

1886: Was exploring the Greenland ice cap with the US Navy

Arranged Arctic explorations while on leave from the Navy

Robert Peary

Robert Peary

Observed Eskimos and their practices: dog sleds, furs, and igloos

Determined Canadas Ellesmere Island as the best starting point for their trek to the Pole

Also determined that greater success can be achieved by travelling in late winter

The Antarctic

The South Pole is located on a great land mass covered with an ice sheet

Cold-air masses of the Southern Hemisphere are larger and stronger, and moved out more

frequently than those of the Northern

Hemisphere.

As a result, the ocean around Antarctic is the stormiest in the world.

The Race to the South Pole

Robert Scott An English Naval Officer Became a naval cadet at

the age of 13 and served on a number of Royal Navy ships in the 1880s and the 1890s

Appointed by the Royal Geographic Society to command the National Antarctic Expedition of 1901-1904

Began to plan an expedition to be the first to reach the South Pole, and spent years raising funds for the trip

The Race to the South Pole

Roald Amundsen

Born in Norway in 1872

Wanted to pursue the North Pole, but Robert

Peary had reached it

already

Decided to embark on an expedition to be the first

man to reach the South

Pole.

The Race to the South Pole

Roald Amundsen

December 14, 1911: Amundsen and his crew

reached the South Pole

Even after his success, he tried to be the first to fly

over the North Pole

The Modern Age

Beginning in the 1950s, geographers made increasing use of quantitative methods.

Quantitative Revolution

Geographers have also broadened their efforts to find practical applications for

geographic studies.