Taking us from our hominid ancestors to the megacities of today, this text brings an emphasis to the political and economic issues of human geography. Covering the major elements of the subject, this book addresses the two binding themes of geography; the spatial perspective, and the relationships between human societies and natural environments. Writtenby a geographer who has worked on every continent, it contains cases and examples from all over the world to help readers understand the plight of the poor, gender issues, and problems such as rapid population growth, and environmental change.