HIST-2107B Geographic Thought
This course is an introduction to the history of geography and is divided in two parts. The first is intended to show the importance of geographical production in the history of Colombia, thus taking a look at three key moments: The geographical relations in the 16th century, the Enlightment at the beginning of the 19th century and the nationalist geography of the mid and late 19th century. We will discuss what type of geography was produced back then, as well as the interests and the power relations underlying these approaches. The second part of the course, longer, is focused on the history of geography as an academic discipline and remarkably emphasizes Anglo-Saxon geography. It is developed around the concepts that help define this branch of knowledge: place, region and landscape, space, society-nature relations and cartography. We will see how some of this axis serve in specific years to define what geography was and how each one of them has been worked in a different manner. None of them is useful on its own to define this multifarious discipline. Therefore, the course strives to enhance the sensibility of students regarding the immense diversity of human geography, hoping that they incorporate some of its elements in the way they perceive the world and carry out their work.
Instructor
Van Ausdal Shawn
Catalog page for this course