Introduction

Emphasis on evolutionary concepts provided an intellectual environment of physical geography in which human activity was not accorded prime consideration. Despite the evolutionary focus which dominated the branches of physical geography in the first half of the twentieth century there were several contributions which may be regarded as milestones in the elucidation of the impact of human activity upon physical landscape. Increasing attention accorded to the significance of human activity in the physical environment was subsequently apparent in general review papers and in more specific research contributions that were published in the decade beginning in 1960. The emphasis upon environmental processes, occurred as a necessary requirement to permit the further development of models of the development of the physical environment. One consequence of the 1960s may therefore be seen as the development of specific studies of man's influence on particular processes and sections of environment, accompanied by general conceptual attention accorded to human activity.