Chapter II: Introduction

Introductory Remarks ix
Solar System. Planets. Middle Position of the Earth. Figure
of the Earth. Ptolemaic System. Copernicus. Conception of
Geography.

The Earth as the Dwelling-place of Man xiv
General Remarks.

Geography as a Science xv
The Earth and Man. Geography. Scientific Definition of
Geography. Geography as a Science.

What Geographical Science has yet to accomplish xix
The Earth a Unit. Geographical Treatises. Comparative Geography.

Sources of Geographical Science xxv
The Study of our own Neighborhood. Strabo, Cluver, Humboldt.

The Sciences illustrative of Geography xxvii
Illustrative Sciences. Nautical Science.

COMPARATIVE GEOGRAPHY.

PART FIRST.

THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH CONSIDERED IN ITS
MOST GENERAL RELATIONS.

The Spheroidal Form of the Earth 31
Flattening of the Poles. The Surface of the Earth.

The Threefold Covering of the Earth 34
The Atmosphere. Depth of the Sea. The Interior of the Earth.

The Superficial Dimensions of the Land and Water on the Globe 39
Water and Land. Area of the Earth.

Contrast of the Land and Water Hemispheres 41
Continents and Islands. Contrast of the Hemispheres. The great
Coast-belt. Historical Contrast.

The Position of the Continents and its Influence on the Course
of History 46
Structure and Architectural Relations of the Continents.

The Pyramidal Forms of the Great Land-Masses, and their Southward
direction toward the Oceanic Hemisphere 48
Pyramidal Structure. Hypothesis as to its Origin. Surface of
the Moon.

Situation of the Continents in their Relation to each other, and
to their Collective Whole 51
Continents. Submarine Volcanic Connection. Arctic Polar Lands.
The Polar World. America. Australia.

The Historical Element in Geographical Science 58
Matter and Spirit. Steam Navigation. Europe’s advantageous
Position. Natural Endowment of the Various Continents.
Perfectability of the Earth. The Oldest Homes of Culture.

PART SECOND.

A more extended Investigation regarding the Earth’s Surface 69
Plains. Relative and absolute Heights. Highlands and Lowlands.
Lands of Transition.

Highlands 73
General Remarks.

Highlands or Plateaus of the First Class 74
The Asiatic Plateaus. The African Highland. The American
Plateaus.

Plateaus of the Second Class 80
Lower Asiatic Plateaus. Lower African Plateaus. Lower American
Plateaus. Lower European Plateaus. Use and Misuse of the word
Plateau. Limits of the Lower Plateaus.

Mountains and Mountain Lands 89
Mountains and Plateaus. Height of Mountains. Size of Mountains.
Linear Elevation. Mountain Systems. Divisions of Mountains.
Mountain Chains. Serrated Ranges. Peaks and Passes. Ranges
of Demarkation. Superimposed Mountains. Independent Mountain
Systems.

The Relations of Plateau Systems 104
Geological Differences between Plateaus. The Continents with
their respective Plateaus.

Primeval Formation of Plateaus and Mountains 107
General Remarks.

Origin of Plateaus 107
Intumescence of the Earth. The great Plateau Circle.

The Origin of Mountains 109
Volcanic Forces. Deposits from Water. Geography and Geology.

Lowlands 114
Limits of Lowland. The Polar Flat Regions. America, Africa, and
Australia, the Continents of Lowlands.

The Middle European Lowland 119
General Description.

The Origin of the Great Central European Plain 122
General Remarks.

The Ponto-Caspian Plain, the Great Depression of the Old World 126
General Description.

The Origin of the Ponto-Caspian Depression 132
General Remarks.

The Depression of the Jordan Valley and of the Dead Sea 138
Description.

The Bitter Lakes of the Suez Isthmus 142
The Altitude in Relation to the Sea Level.

The Regions of Transition between Highlands and Lowlands. The
River Systems of the Globe 144
General Remarks.

Terrace Lands and Rivers in their General Character 144
Terrace Lands. Rivers. Their Individuality. Water-sheds.
Territory watered. Falls.

Rivers more closely considered 150
Direction. Water-sheds. District drained. River Valleys.

Upper Course of Rivers 154
General Descriptive Remarks.

Middle Course of Rivers 158
General Descriptive Remarks.

Lower Course of Rivers 163
General Descriptive Remarks. River’s Mouth. Navigation of
Rivers. Sinuosity of Rivers: its Influence on Civilization.
Sources. Double Streams. Cross Streams. Weak and Strong
Currents.

Review 177
The Historical Influence of Plateaus. The Influence of River
Systems on Civilization. The European Terrace Lands. The Danube
Terraces.

PART THIRD.

The Configuration of the Continents 183
Teleology of the Earth’s Structure. Horizontal and Vertical
Dimensions. Articulation. Strabo on the Articulation of Europe.

The Superficial Dimensions and Articulation of the Continents 188
Africa. Asia. Europe. The European Triangle. The Articulation
of Europe. Its Extremities. Its Relation to the other
Continents. Its Historical Function. Its complete preparation
for the place assigned to it.

Islands 203
European Islands. African Islands. Asiatic Islands. Polynesia.
Concentration and Dismemberment. Europe.

The Results of the above Considerations briefly stated 210
Review of the Old World.

The New World 212
America. South America. Terra del Fuego. North America.
American Polar Regions. The Future. Conclusion.