Final answer:
The history of Earth's physical features can be discerned from geological formations and landscapes that have unfolded over expansive geological timeframes, based on the concept of uniformitarianism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept that the physical history of the earth could be read from its geology refers to the idea that Earth's geological features and landscapes have unfolded over very long periods. This perspective is largely based on the principle of uniformitarianism, which Charles Lyell, the father of modern geology, endorsed in his Principles of Geology. According to this theory, the same natural processes, such as erosion by wind and water that we observe today, have been at work for millions of years, shaping the Earth's surface into its current form. Lyell's work established the necessity for a much older Earth than previously thought, suggesting it is millions, rather than thousands, of years old. This longer timescale allowed for the slow and steady geological processes to produce significant change, in contrast to the catastrophic events theory that implied a younger Earth. The study of geologic time further reinforces this idea, as it uses rock layers, fossils, and radioactive dating to determine the Earth's age and interpret its history.