The Origins of Modern Geography: Key Figures and Events
Explore the beginnings of modern geography and the pivotal contributions from explorers and scholars.
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The beginning of modern geography is often traced back to the Age of Exploration during the 15th and 16th centuries when explorers expanded knowledge about the Earth's surface. However, it was in the 19th century with the work of scholars like Alexander von Humboldt and Carl Ritter, who applied scientific methods to the study of geography, that the field began to take on its modern form. Their efforts laid the groundwork for geography as an analytical and empirical science.
FAQs & Answers
- What time period marks the beginning of modern geography? The beginning of modern geography is often traced back to the 15th and 16th centuries during the Age of Exploration.
- Who were key figures in the development of modern geography? Alexander von Humboldt and Carl Ritter were pivotal in applying scientific methods to geography in the 19th century.
- How did the Age of Exploration influence modern geography? Explorers during the Age of Exploration expanded knowledge of the Earth's surface, setting the stage for modern geographic study.
- What methods did Humboldt and Ritter use in geography? Humboldt and Ritter used analytical and empirical methods to study geography, transforming it into a modern scientific field.