Geography As a Discipline | Class 11th Geography Chapter 1 | NCERT | UPSC Preparation

TLDR;

Alright folks, this is a new beginning with PW OnlyIAS Prarambh channel! We're diving into Geography, a subject that can seem technical but we'll make it easy. Trust me, I'll use stories and interesting concepts to help you understand. We'll be focusing on the fundamentals of physical geography, tackling questions from the basics.

Geography is important for understanding our surroundings and how they affect us.
The course will cover physical geography, climatology, oceanography, and human geography.
Geography is an interdisciplinary subject, connected to social sciences, economics, and even arts and maths.

Introduction to Geography [0:02]

Hello everyone and welcome to PW Only IAS! We are starting a new journey on the Prarambh channel. Many of you are preparing for UPSC and find Geography a bit tough, especially the class 11th and 12th NCERTs. So, we're here to make things easier. We'll start with physical geography. Some of you might have tried reading the book "Fundamentals of Physical Geography" but found it difficult. Don't worry, I'm good at making tough subjects easy with fun stories. I've already taught physical and human geography on other Only IAS channels and many questions came directly from those lectures in the prelims. You can trust me completely.

Course Details and Objectives [2:19]

These lectures won't be daily; they'll be twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. Other subjects will be added on other days. This course is a holistic coverage of Geography, building your base and making the subject interesting. The goal is to help you understand and appreciate Geography so you see it everywhere around you and can easily understand news and information related to it.

Weightage and Importance of Geography [3:47]

Before we start, let's look at the weightage of Geography in exams. The number of questions varies, but in the last two years, it has increased. Even if it decreases, you can expect 10-13 questions every year. Besides IAS, IPS, and IFS, this exam is also for Forest Services, where Geography and Environment have higher weightage. In 2024, there were 31 questions from Geography and Environment combined.

Chapter 1: Geography as a Discipline [7:33]

Today, we're starting with Chapter 1: Geography as a Discipline. We'll cover why we study Geography, what Geography is, its relation with other sciences, and the components of Geography that we'll study in this series. We'll start with basic orientation, understanding what Geography is, why it's studied, and how it benefits us as bureaucrats. In the next lecture, we'll dive into core Geography with important topics and solve questions in class.

Why Study Geography? [10:55]

Why do we study Geography? When a baby is born, they see their surroundings. Thousands of years ago, people saw trees, the sky, rain, and animals. Humans always think about what they see around them. People slept under the open sky and saw the stars and galaxies. They wondered what these things were. What are these rivers, mountains, and what's beyond them? This curiosity led to the study of Geography. It helps us understand our existence and the nature around us, including jungles, mountains, rivers, oceans, and stars.

Geography and Mythology [14:05]

Many ancient people couldn't understand these things, so they gave them divine powers. In Hindu mythology, many gods are connected to geographical elements. This is also seen in Roman and Greek mythologies. For example, the god of thunder, Indra, is similar to Thor. People didn't understand lightning and rain, so they thought their gods were angry. In the Rigveda, Indra is highly respected because people were troubled by rain.

Scientific Temperament and Geography [16:03]

Later, people started understanding these things with a scientific approach. They realized the Earth wasn't the center of the universe and that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun. The stars are like our Sun but are far away. This scientific temperament developed gradually. Wouldn't you want to learn about these amazing things? You'd want to understand how mountains are formed, why rivers flow, how deserts are created, and why the weather changes. Geography answers these questions.

Key Reasons to Study Geography [18:42]

So, why should we study Geography?

To understand our surroundings.
To understand climatic phenomena like rainfall and wind systems.
To make our lives easier.

Origin of the Term "Geography" [22:16]

The term "Geography" was first used by a Greek person named Eratosthenes (276-194 BC). He coined the term Geography. The word "geo" in Greek means Earth, and "graphos" means description. So, Geography is the description of Earth. Eratosthenes said Geography is the description of Earth as the home of human beings. It studies not just the Earth but also the relationship between humans and their environment.

Geography and Time [28:32]

Geography studies not just places but also time. How was the Earth formed? Was it always like this? About 250 million years ago, there was only one landmass called Pangea and one ocean called Panthalassa.

Pangea and Panthalassa [29:29]

Approximately 250 million years ago, there was a supercontinent called Pangea and a super ocean called Panthalassa. Over time, the Earth changed.

Laurasia and Gondwana [31:54]

The landmass split into two parts: Laurasia in the north and Gondwana in the south, with the Tethys Sea in between. India was once part of Gondwana, connected to Antarctica near the South Pole. Gondwana included India, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, and South America. Laurasia included North America, Russia, and Europe. The Tethys Sea is related to today's Mediterranean Sea.

Present-Day Map [37:25]

Today, the Earth looks different with separate continents and oceans. The map includes North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica. The Pacific Ocean is on both sides, the Atlantic Ocean is in between, the Arctic Ocean is at the top, and the Indian Ocean is named after India.

Three Basic Questions to Understand Geography [43:31]

To understand Geography as a discipline, we need to answer three basic questions:

Identification of patterns of natural and cultural features: What are mountains, rivers, and plateaus?
Distribution of human or natural resources: Where are these resources found?
Causal relationship between resources, processes, and phenomena: Why are things located where they are?

Geography as an Integrated Discipline [51:38]

Geography is an interdisciplinary subject, taking parts from other subjects. It's connected to sociology, economics, and more.

Geography and Social Sciences [56:36]

Geography is related to social sciences. For example, in Rajasthan, people eat "gatte ki sabzi" because green vegetables are scarce due to the hot climate. In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where green vegetables are abundant, people eat different foods. Houses are made of wood in tribal areas and foreign countries where wood is readily available. In India, houses are made of cement, sand, and bricks. These cultural activities are influenced by Geography.

Geography and Economics [1:01:00]

Geography is also related to economics. Countries with oil reserves export oil. Primary activities like farming and mining, secondary activities like production, and tertiary activities are all related to Geography. Japan has a large fish production because of the meeting of cold and warm ocean currents.

Geography and Other Subjects [1:05:01]

Geography is connected to geology, studying rocks and soil. Geomorphology is responsible for the formation of landforms. Oceanography studies the oceans. Geography is an integrating discipline.

Geography and Arts & Maths [1:08:13]

Maths and arts are also part of Geography. Cartography, the art of drawing maps, requires artistic skills and an understanding of proportions.

Branches of Geography [1:11:36]

The main branches of Geography are physical geography and human geography. Physical geography includes geomorphology, climatology, oceanography, and soil geography. Human geography includes population and settlement geography, economic geography, and social and cultural geography.

Physical vs Human Geography [1:15:03]

Physical Geography includes geomorphology, climatology, oceanography and soil geography. Human Geography includes social geography, population and settlement geography and economic geography.

Examples and Applications [1:17:13]

Most deserts are located on the western sides of continents. Why? Geography answers this. Monsoon winds flow in certain directions. Why? Geography answers this.