The 'New' Geography: an Overview

The nature of academic Geography has changed so greatly during the last quarter century, that many consider that a revolution has occurred. This revolution comprises a complex of partially intertwined components so that no single place or time or origin can be identified, but the main changes, originated in North America and Europe after World War 2, became generally accepted in university departments during the nineteen sixties, and are now penetrating school curricula. The time is therefore ripe to consider the relevance of some of these new ideas to geography teaching in Rhodesian schools, and this set of papers is intended to provide some background for such ah exercise. This Introductory paper attempts a broad overview of the 'new' Geography,' while the following papers concentrate upon certain of its important components in more detail. It should be emphasized that these papers provide only a general introduction, and attention is drawn to the list of references, virtually all of which can be consulted in the University of Rhodesia Library.

Presented to the 1977 Workshop of the Geographical Association of Rhodesia, Victoria Falls, August 30-September 3, 1977.