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Why do you think geography has been given so little attention by Bible readers?
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Because there has not been an emphasis on the need to learn, and in many cases that importance has not been manifested in the teachings that Christians receive.
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The Bible is focused on Israel and the surrounding nations. They are mentioned because they are relevant to that focus. Those not mentioned, for example, China or Australia weren’t relevant at the time.
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From my own experience, I did not pay attention to geography because I did not understand its significance.
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To most readers geography is just a side item or inconsequential reference or an unnecessary detail (a colorful enhancement at best). Most fail to see how it applies and impacts what we are reading in the given narrative. Geography should be considered a character in the story and not just some glanced over information. In my studies, I have found that geography plays a key role in truly understanding many things, especially in the Old Testament.
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When reading the bible, the big idea or purpose is always the most sought information. I would want to know What is happening and Why is it happening. Most of the names are so complex that I must read the story several times before adding meaning to the story through the Who in the bible. The Where and the When gets little attention because we underestimate the creative genius of the story writer overlooking the fact that God knew who would do well to write His book before the writer even start writing. Ecclesiastes is my favorite book of the bible. I am not a big fan of Palms because all of the detail in expressing the geography or scenery. I also like the proverbs it is poetry, but it sticks to stating the facts and providing remedy. In other words, very frank and to the point. this is the reason geography gets little attention from me when reading the bible.