Regional Geography: Theory and Practice - Softcover

Minshull, Roger

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0202309568 ISBN 13: 9780202309569

Publisher: Aldine Transaction, 2007

Synopsis

There is only one region--the surface of the earth--on which mankind finds its home. Yet, although much effort is devoted by geographers towards the study of this diversified environment as a whole, it has long seemed necessary, by the methods of aespecial' or aeregional geography', to study its component parts. And although nature abhors lines, geographers might appear to adore them, so busily do they engage themselves in delimiting on their maps allegedly significant areas called aeregions'. As a result, every student of geography in school, college of education and university has been taught, read books, and attempted to answer questions on regional geography.

The problem of region in geographic thought--how it may be defined, how it has developed, and how it is applied--has been vigorously debated within the discipline. In this incisive examination of the types of regions and regional methods treated in modern geography, Roger Minshull analyzes in detail the concepts of formal, functional, and city regions in an attempt to clarify this vexing problem.

In addition to sizes, shapes, boundaries, and organization, the phenomena that usually form the content of regions are delineated in an attempt to define the nature of regional geography. As some regions are seen to be products of geographers' minds, it is suggested that certain influences, especially the methods of mapping the separate topics that form the content of regions, have been exaggerated. Regionalism and possible alternatives to the regional method are treated, and a large section of the book is devoted to the idea of the compage, in which the geographer's choice of topics and method of working is much freer than in more traditional approaches.

About this title

Review:

"In ten chapters Mr. Minshull examines what is meant by regional description, the nature and functioning of regions of various kinds as defined by different geographers, possible alternatives to the regional approach, and the consequences of the use of mapping techniques, as well as discussing the 'compage', and reaching his conclusions."

--P. T. Wheeler, The Geographical Journal

"Roger Minshull of Manchester, England, has undertaken the difficult task of reviewing the theory and practice of regional geography. He finds, of course, that there "is no one definition of a region, and no one method of recognizing, delimiting, or describing a region.""

--Preston E. James, Economic Geography

"In ten chapters Mr. Minshull examines what is meant by regional description, the nature and functioning of regions of various kinds as defined by different geographers, possible alternatives to the regional approach, and the consequences of the use of mapping techniques, as well as discussing the 'compage', and reaching his conclusions."

--P. T. Wheeler, The Geographical Journal

"Roger Minshull of Manchester, England, has undertaken the difficult task of reviewing the theory and practice of regional geography. He finds, of course, that there "is no one definition of a region, and no one method of recognizing, delimiting, or describing a region.""

--Preston E. James, Economic Geography

-In ten chapters Mr. Minshull examines what is meant by regional description, the nature and functioning of regions of various kinds as defined by different geographers, possible alternatives to the regional approach, and the consequences of the use of mapping techniques, as well as discussing the 'compage', and reaching his conclusions.-

--P. T. Wheeler, The Geographical Journal

-Roger Minshull of Manchester, England, has undertaken the difficult task of reviewing the theory and practice of regional geography. He finds, of course, that there -is no one definition of a region, and no one method of recognizing, delimiting, or describing a region.--

--Preston E. James, Economic Geography

About the Author:

Roger Minshull is head of the Geography Department, Levenshulme Grammar School, Manchester, England.

About this edition

• Publisher: Aldine Transaction
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0202309568
• ISBN 13: 9780202309569
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 174