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Department of Geography

 

The Cambridge Geography Classification

The ‘Cambridge’ Classification of Geography reflects the stress laid on the systematic approach by the Geographical Tripos, and therefore subordinates treatment by region to treatment by subject.

The Book Numbers

  • It provides means to classify books by subject and divide them by region and period.
  • To differentiate between items within a class sequential numbers are added after the class.
  • The volumes in a set are given the appropriate number following a full stop after the main book number.
  • Multiple copies of the same item are given a copy number in brackets following the item number.
  • If there is an English of French translation of a book already in the library it is given the number of the original followed by E or F.
  • RB – The Rare Books (Clark Collection) are available on request.

Main Classes

A – Geographical Thought

A: The nature, elements, limits and anatomy of geography;
other subjects as systems of thought;
individual theories of the nature of geography, science and philosophy; their description by others (but not history);
discussion of the concept of landscape and the region.
AA: The place of geography in knowledge; its relationship to other subjects.
AB: The growth and development of geographical ideas and of scientific, technical and philosophical thought;
their inter-relationships;
intellectual history – divided by chronological table.
AC: The national schools of geography.
AD: Those techniques of research and interpretation which can legitimately be applied to a variety of geographical problems;
the purpose and limitations of these.
[techniques applicable only to a specific subject classed with that subject].
AE: The function of geography;
the geographer’s contribution to the solution of the problems of the modern world;
applied geography.
[contributions to the solution of specific problem classed with that problem]
AF: Geography as a means of education;
the teaching of geography;
Royal Geographical Society.
[Geographical dictionaries classed with dictionaries.]

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B – Cosmology

B: Cosmology;
astronomy;
the solar system;
the earth in relation to the universe;
the origin and age of the earth.

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C – Geology

C: Geology: general, not regional, works.
CA: Palaeogeography:
regional distributions of earth features in pre-Quaternary times.
CB: Rock types and structures:
mineralogy, crystallology, petrology;
joints and cleavage.
CC: Stratigraphy:
the mechanics of weathering, erosion, sedimentary structures;
sedimentary rocks;
fossils, pollen analysis;
the geological time scale – geochronology.
CD: The interior structure of the earth:
geophysics;
the evidence of vulcanicity and seismology.
CE: Major earth movements and processes:
diastrophism;
uplift and subsidence;
isostacy;
continental drift;
faults, folds and drifts.
CF: Landforms resulting from major earth movements and processes:
mountains and mountain building;
ridge masses and fold mountains;
volcanoes.
CG: Sediment transport and deposition.

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D – Geomorphology

D: Geomorphology:
the physical landscapes;
the physiographic cycle;
‘normal’ erosion of humid temperate regions.
DA: Regional descriptive geologies and geomorphologies – divided by regional table.
DB: Publications of the Geological Survey of Britain.
DC:
DD: Glaciology and glacial landforms:
periglacial landforms;
ice age;
all glacial, peri-glacial, quaternary.
DE: Desert landforms;
sand dunes.
DF: Climatic geomorphology in general:
tropical, humid and savannah landforms.
DG: Landforms of chalk and limestone terrains;
karst topography;
caverns and caves.
DH: All coasts, deltas and estuaries;
coastal landforms;
shorelines;
cliffs, stacks and caves;
wave-cut platforms;
spits, bars, lagoons, fiords, salt-marshes (but not ecological works);
waves as agents of erosion;
the effects of vegetation on coastal topography.
DJ: Marine landforms and geology;
sea floor.
DK: Coral reefs.

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E – Hydrology

E: Hydrology
EA: Rivers
EB: Lakes;
Palaeolimnology.
EC: Oceanography:
ocean tides;
currents.
[see also DJ].
ED: Practical aspects:
flood control;
drainage;
water supply;
hydropower.
[for eutrophication see HL].

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F – Meteorology and Climatology

F: Meteorology
FA: Climatology
FB: Micro-climatology
FC: Instruments and methods of observation:
weather maps etc.
FD: History of climate in geological time.
FE: History of climate in historical time.

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G – Soils

G: General soil science
GA: Soil physics;
mechanics;
engineering.
GB: Soil chemistry:
mineralogy;
analysis.
GC: Soil biology:
biochemistry;
organic matter;
soil-plant relationships.
GD: Soil fertility;
fertilizers.
GE: Soil erosion;
drainage and irrigation;
reclamation;
conservation.
[corresponds to the Buttress Collection classifications J.1 – J.6]

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H – Biogeography

H: Biogeography:
biology (technical biogeography);
general relationship between physical and human environment.
HA: Palaeontology
HB: Evolution;
heredity and genetics;
Darwin, Lamark, Mendel.
HC: The physical environment;
adaptation of living things to it.
HD: The biological environment;
balance of nature;
biotic community;
pyramid of numbers;
nitrogen cycle;
biodiversity.
HE: The biology of pests and parasites;
insects.
HF: Effects of man on the environment:
pollution;
acid rain;
environmental effects of climate change;
greenhouse effect;
environmental chemistry.
HG: Botany;
plant geography;
phytogeography.
HH: Zoology;
animal geography;
zoogeography.
HJ: Ecology (ie technical ecology);
ecosystems.
[ecology of specific region put in R].
HK: Palaeoecology;
palynology.
HL: Management and conservation of the environment:
land reclamation;
control of eutrophication;
pollution control;
energy policy – environmental aspects;
waste disposal;
agroforestry;
biodiversity – practical applications;
Agenda 21.
HM: Natural hazards
HN: Deserts;
dryland management.
HO: Tropics;
tropical rain forests.

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J – Physical Anthropology

J: Physical anthropology;
man as an animal.
JA: Physiology of man.
JB: Perception;
psychology.
JC: Specific aspects of the relationship of the human organism to the environment;
dietetics and malnutrition;
JD: Diseases;
medical geography.
JE: Genetics and heredity;
physiological evolution of man;
physiology of prehistoric man.
JF: Race and racism – anthropological aspects.

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K – Human Geography

K: General human geography
K/a Environmental management – non-biogeographical;
Science/social science interaction.
K/b Environmentalism;
Concepts of nature.
K/c Environmental policy;
Environmental politics.
K/d Environmental ethics;
Risk.
K/e Biodiversity – non-biogeographical;
Intellectual property rights;
Common property.
K/f Gender and environment;
Development – general.
KA: Empirical studies.
KB: Theories:
determinists and opponents;
green politics – theories.
KC: Specific examples of man’s relationship to given environments.
KD: Population:
demography.
KE: Population:
problems and policies;
over population;
hunger and famine;
Malthus, the neo-Malthusians and their opponents;
eugenics;
birth control.
KF: Migration;
volkerwanderungen limitations on population movements;
immigration laws.
KG: Settlement and colonisation:
from standpoint of settlers and colonists;
pioneer fringe;
Turner’s frontier hypothesis.
[for political aspects see NE]

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L – Social Geography

L: Social geography;
sociology;
ethnography;
philosophy;
LA: Theories of society;
postmodernism;
citizenship;
nationality.
[for historical works see P]
[for nationalism as a political concept see NJ].
LB: Social problems and their remedies;
public services;
slums;
poverty;
homelessness;
disasters and disaster relief.
LC: Social institutions and organisations:
The family:
the clan;
sex conventions;
marriage and kinship;
gender;
work;
Property:
the dwelling;
land tenure;
home ownership;
Codes, sanctions and taboos:
law and its administration;
society and the individual;
crime and vice.
LD: Social stratification:
class;
caste;
serfdom and slavery;
feudalism;
class conflict.
LE: Sodalities;
associations, institutions, guilds, trade unions, clubs;
mutual aid co-operative movements;
strikes.
LF: General cultural geography
LF/a Cultural conceptions of space, place nature and landscape
LF/b Architecture;
Urban spaces.
LF/c Colonialism;
Orientalism;
Ethnicity.
LF/d Cultural aspects of religion
LF/e Cultural aspects of health;
Sexuality;
Gay space;
The body.
LF/f Popular culture:
Television; cinema;
Food; shopping.
LF/g Music; art;
Theatre; literature.
LF/h Leisure; tourism.
LG: Culture contacts and clashes:
the mechanism of diffusion of cultures;
communication between peoples;
language and semantics;
education.
LH: Minority groups:
the Jews;
the gypsies;
group prejudice;
discrimination.
LJ: Plural societies;
the social consequences of racism.
LK: Prehistoric societies;
archaeology generally.
[archaeology of Britain see P.1 or P.1a; other countries see R].
LL: Primitive societies. [divide by regional table]
[for popular accounts see Q].
LM: Civilisations
LN: Rural communities;
Counter-urbanisation.
LP: General urban geography
LP/a Urban planning
LP/b Housing
LP/c Transport planning
LP/d Cities – general
LP/e Cities – Europe, North America (‘developed world’)
LP/f Cities – rest of world (‘developing world’)
LQ: Urban – historical.

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M – Economics and Economic Geography

M: Economic geography:
general texts (divided by regional table to 1 digit);
Economic theories;
political economy.
MA: Locational analysis;
location;
cost benefit analysis.
MB: Types of economy;
relationships to the environment;
maladjustments and adaptations;
laissez-faire;
planned economy;
mercantilism;
economic nationalism;
green economy;
environmental economics.
MC: Growth.
MD: Labour, population and unemployment.
ME: Power;
nuclear industry;
nuclear waste;
fuels.
MF: Transport;
communications;
shipping;
ports.
MG: Production and industry;
manufacture;
management and organisation;
technology;
economic development and underdevelopment;
regional development;
third world aid – economic aspects.
MH: Consumption and trade;
commerce;
supply and demand;
purchasing power;
imports and exports;
competition for markets;
marketing;
privatisation.
MJ: Trade cycles.
MK: Government controls:
bounties, quotas, tariffs, subsidies;
taxation;
public loans;
international controls and agreements;
custom unions;
cartels.
ML: Raw materials.
MM: Agriculture;
food stuffs;
irrigation.
[divided by regional table].
MN: Pastoral industries.
MP: Forestry;
pulp and paper;
rubber.
MQ: Conservation;
resources.
MR: Fisheries;
whaling.
MS: Textiles and clothing.
MT: Mineral resources and mining;
economic geology;
metallurgy;
oil.
MU: Machinery.
MV: Chemical industry.
MW: Miscellaneous industries.

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N – Political Geography

N: Political geography
[divided by regional table to 1 digit]
NA: Political theory;
nature of the state.
NB: Geopolitics.
NC: Internal relationships of the state;
sovereignty and laws;
constitution and government;
the state, society and the individual;
influence of economic activities on the state;
minority and non-dominant groups.
ND: External relationships of the state;
foreign policy;
balance of power;
treaties;
neutrality;
space-relations of states;
spheres of influence;
Monroe doctrine;
international relations.
NE: Expansion of the state;
lebensraum;
manifest destiny;
empire building.
NF: Strategic and military geography;
man power;
resources;
position of the capital;
strategic zones.
NG: Frontiers, boundaries and marshlands – strategic and political aspects.
NH: The city state.
NJ: Nation-state;
nationalism;
self determination of peoples;
electoral geography.
NK: World empires.
NL: Dependent units:
provinces, satellite states, colonies, mandated territories.
NM: Confederations and federations;
international organisations.

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P – Historical Geography

P: History;
historical geography;
[divided by regional and chronological tables]
industrial archaeology;
local history and archives.
PA: Place names [English Place Names Society volumes in Map Room]
PB: Origins of agriculture.
[economic history either here or with economics as appropriate]
[archaeology – history of prehistoric period, JE or LK as appropriate].

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Q – Exploration

Q: History of exploration and travel;
individual accounts;
general reports of expeditions.
QA: Land exploration.
QB: Maritime exploration.

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R – Regional Geography

R: Regional geography:
regional studies;
books about an aspect of a region where the region is of greater significance than the subject.
general books dealing with all or many aspects of a given area – especially if popular, non scientific and non-analytical.
[divided according to the regional table]

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RB – Rare Books (Clark Collection)

The Geography Department acts as custodian for the Clark Collection, over 400 rare books on travel and exploration, bequeathed to the University in 1910 by John Willis Clark, former Registrary. Catalogue records for the books can be found via the iDiscover catalogue. The books are available on request.

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S – Surveying and Cartography

S: Surveying.
SA: Map projections.
SB: Cartography.
SC: History of surveying and cartography.
SD: Geodesy.
SE: Aerial photography and photogrammetry.
SF: Satellites and remote sensing.

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T – Techniques

[Subject specific material with subject]
T: General;
statistics;
survey design.
TA: Experimental design.
TB: Factor analysis.
TC: Correlation and regression.
TD: Sampling.
TE: Time series.
TF: Linear programming.
TG: Graphs.
TH: Systems.
TJ: Computers;
Geographical Information Systems.
TK: Diffusion.
TL: Game theory.
TM: Photography;
chemical analysis.

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Reference

1 Encyclopaedia and Buildings of England
2 Subject dictionaries
3 Language dictionaries
4 Essays and symposia
5 Statistics guides
6 Bibliographies
7 Archival guides
8 Large books and Victoria County Histories
9 Tripos papers
10 Atlases
11 Periodicals guides
12 Almanacs etc.
13 Guides to postgraduate courses and funding
14 Biographical and international guides
15 Statistics

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Chronological Table

a Prehistory
b Classical period
c Dark Ages – end of Roman period to 1100
d Middle Ages – 1100 to 1450
e Renaissance – 1453 to 1600
f Seventeenth century
g Eighteenth century
h Nineteenth century – 1789 to 1918
i 1918 to 1945
j post 1945

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Regional Table

.1 British Isles
.11 South West
.12 North
.13 Midlands
.14 East Anglia
.15 London & South East
.16 Wales
.17 Scotland
.18 Eire
.19 Northern Ireland
.2 Europe (esp. EU)
.21 Mediterranean lands
.22 Greece and Albania
.23 Italy
.24 Spain, Portugal, Canaries,
Madeira, Balearic Islands.
.25 Western Europe
.26 France
.27 Switzerland
.28 Germany
.29 Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg
.30 Norway, Sweden, Denmark
.31 Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
.32 Iceland, Faroe Islands
.33 Poland
.34 Eastern Europe
.35 Austria, Czechoslovakia
.36 Hungary, former Yugoslavia
.37 Rumania, Bulgaria
.38 Imperial Russia, USSR, Russian
Federation
[divide as .7]
.39 CIS
[divide as 7]
.4 Asia
.41 Siberia
.42 Central Asia
.43 Middle East
.44 Turkey
.45 Palestine, Syria, Arabia, Iraq
.46 Persia, Afghanistan
.47 India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka,
Nepal, Himalayas.
.47-A Physical
.47-B Economic
.47-C Historical
.47-D Social, cultural
.47-E Urban
.47-F Rural
.47-G Political
.47-H Ecology, environment
.48 Tibet.
.49 Myanmar
.50 Far East
.51 China
.52 Japan
.53 South East Asia, Indonesia
.54 East Indies, Philippines, New Guinea
.55 Pacific islands, Fiji
.56 Australia
.57 New Zealand
.58
.59
.6 Africa
.6-A Physical
.6-B Economic
.6-C Historical
.6-D Peoples
.610 North Africa
.611 Morocco
.612 Algeria
.613 Tunisia
.614 Libya
.620 North East Africa
.621 Egypt
.622 Nile
.623 Sudan
.624 Ethiopia
.625 Somalia
.626 Djibouti (French Somaliland)
.630 Sahara
.631 Sahel
.632 Mauritania
.633 Mali
.634 Niger
.635 Chad
.636 Western Sahara
.640 West Africa
.641 Senegal
.642 Gambia
.643 Guinea, Guinea Bissau
.644 Sierra Leone
.645 Liberia
.646 Ivory Coast
.647 Ghana, Burkina Faso
.648 Togo, Benin
.649 Nigeria
.650 Central Africa
.651 Cameroon
.652 Central African Republic
.653 Gabon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea,
Cabinda
.654 Zaire
.655 Rwanda, Burundi
.656 Angola
.660 East Africa
.661 Kenya
.662 Uganda
.663 Tanzania
.664
.665 Zambia
.666
.667 Malawi
.668 Mozambique
.670 Madagascar
.680 Southern Africa
.681 South Africa
.682
.683
.684
.685
.686 Lesotho, Swaziland
.687 Namibia
.688 Botswana
.689 Zimbabwe
.690 Islands
.691 Mauritius
.692 Seychelles
.693 Ascension, St Helena,
Gough Island
.7 U.S.A.
.7-A Physical
.7-B Economic
.7-C Historical
.7-D Peoples/Social/Cultural
.7-E Urban
.7-F Exploration
.7-G Political
.71 Canada
.71-A Physical
.71-B Economic
.71-C Historical
.71-D Peoples
.72 Frontier
.73 North east
.74 Atlantic and Appalachian states
.75 South
.76 Mid-west
.77 West
.78 Alaska
.79 Overseas territories
.8 South America
.8-A Physical
.8-B Economic
.8-C Historical
.8-D Peoples/Social/Cultural
.8-E Urban
.8-F Exploration
.8-G Political
.810 Caribbean, West Indies
.811 Bahamas
.812 Cuba
.813 Jamaica
.814 Haiti
.815 Dominican Republic
.816 Puerto Rico
.817
.818 Trinidad
.820 Mexico
.830 Central America
.831 Guatemala
.832 El Salvador
.833 Honduras
.834 Belize
.835 Nicaragua
.836 Costa Rica
.837 Panama
.840 Andean States
.841 Venezuela
.842 Colombia
.843 Ecuador
.844 Peru
.845 Bolivia
.846 Chile
.850 The Guianas
.851 Guyana
.852 Surinam
.853 French Guiana
.860 Brazil
.870 S.E. South America
.871 Paraguay
.872 Uruguay
.873 Argentina
.9 Polar Regions
.91 Arctic, Greenland
.92 Antarctic
.93 British Empire and
Commonwealth