Question

Arrange the following approaches of human geography from earlier colonial times to 1990s.
A. Spatial Organization
B. Post-Modernism in geography
C. Areal Differentiation
D. Emergence of humanistic, radical and behavioral schools
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A, B, C, D
• B. C, B, A, D
• C. B, A, D, C
• D. C, A, D, B

Hint:

Chronology of Human Geography Paradigms:
1930s: Areal Differentiation.
1950s--1960s: Spatial Organization (Quantitative Revolution).
1970s: Radical, Humanistic, and Behavioural Schools.
1990s: Post-Modernism in Geography.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Concept:
The discipline of human geography has witnessed a continuous evolution of paradigms, conceptual perspectives, and methodologies.
This evolution reflects changing epistemological traditions ranging from early exploratory and regional approaches to spatial quantitative modeling, followed by welfare critique, and finally post-modern deconstruction.

Step 1: Chronology of Approaches in Human Geography:
According to NCERT's Fundamentals of Human Geography, the historical evolution of approaches is classified as follows:
1. Early Colonial Period: Exploration and description.
2. Later Colonial Period: Regional analysis.
3. 1930s through the Inter-War Period: Areal Differentiation (C), focusing on uniqueness of regions and understanding why one area differs from another.
4. Late 1950s to late 1960s: Spatial Organization (A), marked by the Quantitative Revolution, application of computers, statistical tools, and laws of physics to spatial patterns.
5. 1970s: Emergence of Humanistic, Radical, and Behavioural Schools (D), reacting against mechanistic quantitative models to study social reality, poverty, and human perception.
6. 1990s: Post-Modernism in Geography (B), emphasizing local contexts, grand theory skepticism, and pluralistic interpretations.

Step 2: Determining the Correct Chronological Sequence:
Tracing the sequence from earliest to latest:
Areal Differentiation (C) arrow Spatial Organization (A) arrow Radical/Humanistic/Behavioural (D) arrow Post-Modernism (B) This gives the order: C, A, D, B.
Final Answer:
Therefore, the correct chronological sequence of approaches is C, A, D, B.