The Cambridge Geography Classification

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.]

B:

Cosmology;

astronomy;

the solar system;

the earth in relation to the universe;

the origin and age of the earth.

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.

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.

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].

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.

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]

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.

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.

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]

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.

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.

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.

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].

Q:

History of exploration and travel;

individual accounts;

general reports of expeditions.

QA:

Land exploration.

QB:

Maritime exploration.

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]

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.

[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.

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

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

.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

.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