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Vice-Admiral Robert Fitzroy (1805 – 1865) Captain of HMS Beagle

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Vice-Admiral Robert Fitzroy (1805 – 1865) Captain of HMS Beagle 10/18/2011 Chile Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy (1805 – 1865) Captain of HMS Beagle Mount FitzRoy Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina • English naturalist famous for Conrad Martens Charles Darwin his 1859 book On the Origin • English-born (of (1809-1882) of Species, which argues that (1801 – 1878) Austrian parents) life forms evolve from common ancestors by the artist known mainly process of natural selection. for his Australian • Largely based on data he landscape paintings. collected while a naturalist aboard the round-the-world • Came aboard H.M.S. voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle, BltMtidBeagle at Montevideo December 1831 - October to replace Augustus 1836. Earle as chief artist • An account of that journey, commonly called The Voyage after the latter became of the Beagle (1839), had too sick to continue previously established his on the voyage. literary reputation and credentials as a scientist. 1 10/18/2011 Evolution and Natural Selection Alfred Russell • Evolution is the process of change in species Wallace (resulting from adaptation to environment, natural (1823 – 1913) selection, inbreeding and mutation) that may ultimately result in the creation of new species. British naturalist • Natural selection is one of the factors that “Father of biogeography” drives evolution. It is a process in nature resulting in the survival and perpetuation of only those forms Independent proponent of of plants and animals that have certain favorable evolution based on natural characteristics that best enable them to adapt to a selection. specific environment. His correspondence with Darwin prompted the latter [Generally, the term “Darwinism” came to refer to to publish his theories. the process of evolution by natural selection.] Recent cartoon bemoaning the “forgotten” proponent of natural selection (Darwin left, Wallace right) • French naturalist and early Herbert • English philosopher and Jean-Baptiste proponent of evolution. polymath associated with the rise •Believed that qualities learned Spencer of Social Darwinism – loosely, the Lamarck or acquired by an individual in (1820-1903) application of Darwinian Theory to (1744-1829) its lifetime could be passed on humans. to its offspring. • Coined “survival of the fittest.” • Thought hereditary changes • Human societies are engaged in resulted from efforts to adapt to a struggle with their environment changes in environmental and each other to survive. conditions. • The fittest people thrive best in • Thought human nature could an economic system based on be changed by transforming the free enterprise/laissez faire. physical and social environment • Saw the endpoint of the – a notion (loosely, Lamarckism) evolutionary process as the that profoundly influenced creation of “the perfect man in the geography. perfect society.” 2 10/18/2011 How Darwinism impacted geography Friedrich Ratzel (1844-1904) • Led to “scientific” theories regarding the • German political impact of geographic environment on geographer. people, culture, society and civilization. • “Organic state theory.” • Led to development of “organic analogies” in • Viewed States as living several fields of the discipline, as well as the organisms that need notion of development over time. food and resources to • Led to theories involving struggle and grow and prosper. survival. • justified colonialism. • Led to ideas that supported colonialism and • Coined “lebensraum,” imposition of European culture on various used by the Nazi Party parts of the world. to justify expansionism. • Major British advocate for Karl Haushofer (1869-1946) Halford Mackinder geographic education. (1861-1947) • Appointed “Reader in • German general, Geography” at Oxford in geographer and geo- 1887. School of Geography politician. was formed there in 1899. • His interpretation of • Said that geography Ratzel’ s theories may needed a firm conceptual have influenced Nazi foundation, and could not expansionism. simply rely on collecting facts. • Sometimes called “Hitler’s geographer,” • Proposed a focus on the probably overstated. causal relations between environment and society • Important in forging link (“The geographical with Japan. experiment” – Livingstone). Geopolitics is the application of geography Halford Mackinder (1861-1947) to strategic planning, policy-making, and actions, including: • British geographer and major father of • Projection of military power geopolitics and geo- strategy. • Creating and securing lines of communication • Advocate of land power (as opposed to sea • Promoting access to and development of power. resources. • Viewed a strong army • Establishment of trade and military alliances. and ability to control Eurasia as essential to • Undermining or limiting the global domination. military/economic options of real or potential • Proposed “The adversaries. Heartland Theory.” 3 10/18/2011 “Who rules Eastern Europe controls The Heartland. Who rules The Heartland controls the World Island. Who rules the World Island controls the world.” -- Ha lfor d Mac kin der, 1919 William Morris Davis Three perspectives on (1850 – 1934) The Cycle of Erosion Harvard Professor of Geography Founder and first president of A.A.G. (1904) and N.C.G.E. (1915) Strong promoter of geographic education at all levels “Father of American Geography” Famous for work in geomorphology, especially the cycle of erosion David • Scottish Congregationalist Rudyard Kipling • Highly popular English poet missionary, doctor and explorer and novelist whose writings Livingstone (1865-1936) (1813-1873) whose advocacy of faith, empire seemingly celebrate British and abolition earned him imperialism. mythical status in his lifetime. •Greatly influenced popular • His disappearance in southern views of “native” peoples and Africa in the 1860s sparked one cultures. of history’s greatest manhunts, • Received Nobel Prize for ending in his iconic encounter Literature in 1907. with Henry Morton Stanley. • Works include The Man Who •Obsessed with finding the Would Be King (1888), Gunga sources of the Nile and filling in Din (1890),The Jungle Book the map of Africa. (1894), The White Man’s • As per his instructions, his Burden (1899), and Kim heart is buried in Africa. The (1901). rest is in Westminster Abbey. 4 10/18/2011 Westminster Abbey: The Great West Door Plaque atop Livingstone’s tomb, Westminster Abbey Livingstone’s Travels in Africa “Doctor Livingstone, I presume?” November 10, 1871 5 10/18/2011 Henry Morton • Welsh-born explorer and Stanley journalist made famous by (1841-1904) his successful sponsorship by The New York Herald to find David Livingstone. •Authored a popular book recounting that endeavor, as well as later volumes related to his subsequent journeys in southern Africa. • Controversial for his self promotion, treatment of Africans, and work on behalf of King Leopold II of Belgium that led to the founding of The Belgian Congo. Ellen Churchill Semple (1863-1932) Ellsworth Huntingdon • Arguably the most famous (1876 – 1947) woman in the history of Professor of Geography at Yale American geography. A.A.G President, 1923 • Proponent of environmental determinism. Famous (infamous?) for work on • Author of majj,or works, climatic determinism and including “American economihic geography History and Its Geographic Conditions” and Strong proponent of “Influences of Geographic Environment” environmental determinism • Often referred to in her time as “Miss Semple” Works include Civilization and since she never married or Climate (1915) and Mainsprings earned a doctorate. of Civilization (1945) • American diplomat, linguist George Perkins and naturalist Marsh • Considered by some to be (1801-1882) the “Father of Environmental Conservation.” •A Vermonter influenced by deforestation in New England and, thanks to ambassadorial assigg,nments, related observations overseas. •Deep concern for human impacts on the natural environment. •Committed his ideas to print in “Man and Nature” (1864) and “The Earth as Modified by Human Action” (1874) 6 10/18/2011 Elisee • Geography’s most prolific writer? • Stressed the importance of field Reclus experience in geography. “For me, seeing the earth is studying it. (1830 – 1905) • Deeply affected by the slavery he The only serious study that I do is witnessed in the Americas. • Advocated understanding and geography, and I believe that it is much respect for foreign cultures. more worthwhile to observe nature • Critical of the environmental firsthand than to imagine what it is like effects of colonialism and of the unequal distribution of wealth. while sitting in one’s study.” • French anarchist and geographer whose work foreshadowed modern environmental and socially -- Elisee Reclus (undated letter to his relevant geography. mother) • Saw geography as a way to promote planning for the equitable spread of global resources. • Russian geographer, scientist Peter and anarchist whose writings “What Geography Ought to Be”: are a prototype of modern A statement on geographic education written Kropotkin radical geography. 1842-1921 • While on a survey of Siberia, in 1885 by Peter Kropotkin (while in jail) he was deeply affected by the living conditions of peasants, • Geography is the science best suited for a child’s which led to an interest in imagination (and thus for the general development of marginalized people and social relevance. the mind). No other science can teach children so •Believed that cooperation was effectively about the interaction between humans the key to human advancement, and nature. and not the competition/struggle • Geography
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