The theory that geography and physical environment are the primary factors determining human culture, history, and behavior.
From geographic plus -ism suffix, which creates nouns indicating a doctrine, system, or theory. Geographism emerged in the 19th century as a framework for understanding how environment shapes society.
Geographism was genuinely influential but also dangerous—it was used to justify racism by claiming geography determined racial characteristics, until scholars proved that culture and human choice matter just as much as rivers and mountains, showing how -ism ideologies need constant critical examination.
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