Carl Sauer’s Contribution to Geography

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Introduction

The field of geography has undergone significant changes throughout history, particularly in Europe and Germany. However, in America, geography primarily focused on exploring how geography influenced human development. In the early 1920s, a new generation of geographers began questioning the existing model and sought an alternative approach.

Carl Sauer, a prominent figure in American geography, introduced a groundbreaking perspective through his essay “The Morphology of Landscape” in 1925. Sauer criticized the traditional concept of man-land relationships and proposed a new model based on the works of Humboldt and Heitner. This blog post explores Sauer’s contributions and his concept of geography as chorology.

Carl Sauer’s Critique of Traditional Geography

Sauer expressed dissatisfaction with the prevailing concept of geography, which focused on the relationship between humans and their environment. He argued that this approach limited students to a single pre-determined outcome and hindered intellectual exploration. Sauer aimed to break free from these constraints and proposed an alternative model for geography.

Definition of Chorology

Drawing inspiration from Humboldt and Heitner, Sauer defined geography as the study of things associated in area on the Earth’s surface, considering both physical and cultural factors. He emphasized the role of human actions in transforming natural landscapes into cultural landscapes over time. According to Sauer, geography should focus on the development of the cultural landscape from the natural landscape.

The Role of Human Action in Landscape

Sauer’s concept of landscape encompassed both natural features and the changes introduced by human activities. He considered humans as the latest agents shaping the landscape. The objective of chorological geography was to understand how human actions modify the original landscape and to identify the patterns and differences that exist between different areas.

The Historical Perspective

Sauer believed that a historical perspective was crucial for understanding the modifications brought about by human actions in any given area. The morphology of landscape required an appreciation of the processes involved, and this understanding could be gained by looking back far enough in time. Contrary to an ahistorical approach, Sauer emphasized the importance of historical insights in the methodology of geography.

Key Principles of Carl Sauer’s Chorological Perspective

Norton Ginsburg summarized the major tenets of Sauer’s chorological perspective as follows:

1. Geography is a comparative study of regions.
2. Description and interpretation are equally important in geography.
3. Geography focuses on material features of the landscape influenced by human activities.
4. Natural environment features contribute to the character of areas and help explain human occupation and use of the landscape.
5. Cultural forms and patterns, whether influenced by natural features or historical antecedents, hold equal geographic significance.
6. Understanding the character of the present landscape requires studying its areal relations and processes from a historical perspective.

The Shift to Chorology

Sauer’s essay, “Morphology of Landscape,” brought about a significant change in American geography. Research papers started highlighting the importance of cultural factors in shaping areas, challenging the previous emphasis on physical features. Hartshorne’s book, “Nature of Geography,” published in 1939, further solidified chorology as the mainstream concept of geography. It became essential reading for graduate students, firmly establishing geography as a chorological science until the late 1950s.

Conclusion

Carl Sauer’s contributions revolutionized the field of geography by introducing the concept of chorology. His rejection of the traditional man-land relationships approach and emphasis on cultural landscapes and historical insights opened new avenues for geographical exploration. Sauer’s ideas laid the foundation for modern geography, and his work continues to influence the discipline to this day.

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