The History of Geographical Knowledge

Abstract

Geography, as a scientific discipline, has evolved over millennia to encompass various branches studying the Earth and its societies. Among these, historical geography has emerged as a field situated at the intersection of geography and history, aiming to examine spatial dimensions of past human activity and environmental conditions. Despite its rich heritage, historical geography has lacked a unified theoretical framework and consensus on its disciplinary boundaries, especially in distinguishing it from the history of geography. This article investigates the development of geographical knowledge from antiquity to the modern era, with a focus on the emergence, evolution, and scientific foundations of historical geography. The findings reveal the global and chronological breadth of geographical thought—from Eratosthenes and al-Khwarizmi to Ortelius and Darby—while outlining the core subdivisions of historical geography: natural-historical, population, economic, and political-historical geography. It also highlights methodological debates and the role of archaeology, anthropology, and toponymy as complementary sources. The paper synthesizes Eastern and Western contributions to historical geography, emphasizing underrepresented Central Asian scholars and cartographers alongside classical European figures, thereby offering a broader, inclusive historiography. The analysis supports the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and the institutionalization of historical geography as a distinct field, essential for understanding the interplay between geographic settings and historical change.