Contemporary geography: The impact of global changes on geographical spaces

Abstract

Geography existed before the appearance of humans, represented by the universe and its natural elements—especially the Earth. With the emergence of humans and their activities, they began to perceive and reflect on these phenomena with their limited understanding. The early stages of geographic thought began in the ancient world, particularly in regions around the Mediterranean. Geography evolved through periods of progress and decline. Geographers left behind contributions that fluctuated between strength and weakness—starting with astronomy, the study of continents, oceans, and landforms, then shifting toward population issues and their environments. Geographic thought expanded to include concepts like exploration, regionalism, space, spatial organization, and eventually spatial foresight. In the 21st century, geography became more aware of global changes, integrating concepts such as spatial justice and sustainability. Thus, geography is moving toward reshaping spatial environments from a sustainability perspective—standing at a crossroads between a modern, technology-driven geography that informs decision-making, and a classical one that merely describes phenomena without offering practical solutions.