A pioneer in environmental determinism and historical sociology. Phase 3: The Age of Discovery and Classical Geography

For aspirants targeting the Civil Services Examination in India with Geography as an optional subject, Paper-I Section-B relies heavily on geographical thought. Majid Husain’s book is universally recommended for several reasons:

The book explores spatial references found in Vedic literature, Puranas, and the works of Aryabhata and Varahamihira, emphasizing early cosmological models. 2. The Dark Ages and the Arab Renaissance

: Discusses the rise of humanistic, radical, behavioral, and welfare approaches that emerged in response to the limits of quantification.

To fully appreciate the book, it's helpful to know the scholar behind it. Prof. Majid Husain (1938-2019) was a highly respected Indian geographer, known for his significant and long-lasting contributions to the field, particularly through his accessible and well-researched textbooks.

The book begins by discussing the geographical thoughts of ancient civilizations, including the Greeks, Romans, and Arabs. During this period, geographical knowledge was primarily based on observations, explorations, and trade. The Greeks, in particular, made significant contributions to the field of geography, with scholars like Eratosthenes and Strabo developing concepts such as the measurement of the Earth's circumference and the classification of geographical regions.

: It tracks geography from prehistoric roots to modern digital modeling.

Husain's work engages with several major debates and controversies in the field of geography, including:

: Championed a regional approach and an anthropocentric view, linking human development to physical environments. Major Philosophical Debates in Human Geography

: A period where religious dogma stifled scientific geographic inquiry in Europe.

: Focus on empirical data collection and regional descriptions, spearheaded by figures like Strabo and Ptolemy. 2. The Dark Ages and the Arab Renaissance

: The tension between studying natural landscapes versus anthropogenic environments.