Cities developed near rivers for water access; geography explains how physical features shape societies; the speaker was in a jet observing landscape; technology provides alternative ways of geographic knowledge.
Cities developed where the rivers ran due to the availability of water for drinking, irrigation, transportation, and trade. Settlements near rivers provided fertile land for agriculture, leading to the growth of urban centers.
The logic of geography lies in the relationship between physical features such as landforms, water bodies, climate, and human activities. It explains how these elements influence the location and development of societies.
The speaker was traveling by jet as mentioned in the poem when they reached ten thousand feet in altitude. This mode of transportation enabled them to observe the landscape from a higher perspective.
The reason for the speaker not being able to know the geography-related information while on earth could be due to limited access to aerial views or technological advancements that provide detailed geographical insights like those from flying at high altitudes.
There are alternative ways of knowing about geography beyond what is mentioned in the poem. Technologies like satellite imaging, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and aerial surveys offer detailed spatial data that enhance our understanding of geographical features and patterns.