Social and Cultural Geography (Theory)

Paper Code: 
25DGEO811
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 
The objective of this paper is to enhance the understanding of society and culture using key
concepts of geography.
Course Outcomes: 
CO189: Conceptualize social and economic geography.
CO190: Aware with the evolution of different civilizations.
CO191: Attain different perceptions of social and cultural geography and its relation with the environment.
CO192: Discusses the different linguistic, racial diversities in the world.
CO193: Discusses the concept of social well- being and settlements.
CO194: Contribute effectively in course specific interaction.
12.00
  • Definition, nature and scope of Social and Cultural Geography.
  • Evolution of human beings and society from Pleistocene period to modern period beginning from Africa. Introduction to Biological evolution of humans. Major Geographic evolution- Africa to India.
  • Rise and dominance of Homo sapiens and their distribution on the earth’s surface.
12.00
  • Beginning of plant domestication, animal domestication and their regions.
  • Evolution of civilization: Indus- Saraswati, Mesopotamian, Nile and Hwang Ho with respect to racial, ethnic, religious, linguistic, demographic and organizational characteristics.
12.00
  • School of cultural determinism, cultural adaptation, assimilation, integration diffusion and Environmental perception.
  • Major cultural hearths, realms, and regions of the world, basic similarities and differences.
  • Major linguistic families and their distribution in the world.
  • Bases of cultural diversity: race, religion, language and nationalism, culture and environment.
  • Human settlements: Origin, types, pattern and distribution, westernization, sanskritization and cultural urbanization and cosmopolitization
12.00
  • Emerging Issues and Trends in Social Geography:
  • Social Geographies of Inclusion and Exclusion,
  • Slums, Communal Conflicts and Crime
  • Concept of Social Well-Being, Well-being and Gross National Happiness,
  • Quality of Life, HDI, Issues of Health, Education and Gender,
  • Policy and Planning of Social Development in India
Essential Readings: 
1. Anderson. J.2009: Understanding Cultural Geography- Places and traces. Routledge, USA.
2. Anderson, K, Domosh, M., Pile, S. and Thrift, N. 2003: Handbook of Cultural Geography, Sage
Publication, London.
3. Ahmad, Aijazuddin, 1999: Social Geography, Rawat Publication, New Delhi.
4. Mitchell, D.2000: Cultural Geography: A Critical Introduction. Blackwell Publishers, Inc. USA.
5. Norton, W. 2006: Cultural Geography: Environments, Landscapes, Identities, Inequalities, Oxford
University Press, Toronto.
6. Haq, Mahbubul: Reflection on Human Development, Oxford University Press, New Delhi.
7. Dubey, S.C. 1991: Indian Society. National Book Trust, New Delhi.
References: 
Suggested Readings:
1. Cox, Peter. R, 1976 : Demography, Cambridge University Press.
2. Knox, Paul. L, 1975: Social Well Being, A Spatial Perspective, Oxford University Press.
3. Ahmad, Aizaddudin, Noin. D, Sharma, H.N, 1997: Demographic Transition: The Third World
Scenario, Rawat Publications.
 
E-Contents:
1. Population Geography (Print only) – Semiannual, Association of Population Geographers of India,
Chandigarh 0256-53
2. The Deccan Geographer (Print only)-Half- Yearly, The Deccan Geographical Society, Pune 0011-
7269
3. The Indian Geographical Journal – Half-Yearly, The Indian Geographical Society, Chennai 0019-
4824
4. Uttar Pradesh Geographical Journal – Annual, The Brahmavarta Geographical Society of India,
Kanpur 0975-4973
Academic Year: 
2025-2026