Sketches the evolution in the relationship between geography and history as sister sciences. In the 19th century geographic determinism, as exemplified by German and American geographers (C. Ritter, F. Ratzel, E. C. Semple and E. Huntington), reigned supreme and prevented a fruitful discussion. Although it has lost much of its force in this century, the (indirect) influence of geographical space on all historical realities is now widely recognized.