Contribution of Greek geographers/scholars

This is very informative presentation

1. Contribution of Greek
In Geography
PushpenderNain
(Geo. Hons.)

2. Introduction:
Geography as a field of knowledge had its roots in Greek learning.
This is not the case surprising as in ancient times Greek was one of
the most prosperous civilizations ranging from 500BC-200BC with its
base in Greece and surrounding areas. Greek time is aptly called
The Golden Age “ because all Greeks offer A conceptual framework
that has guided western thinking for centuries. It was the most
developed economy in the world. Greek philosophers of the day
provided a theoretical and scholarly foundation for philosophical
thinking through models, concepts, and paradigms that have guided
Western scholars to many hundreds of years.

3. Major Greek Scholars:
•ThelistofancientGreekphilosopherscontainsphilosopherswho
studiedinancientGreeceorspokeGreek.AncientGreek
philosophybeganinMiletus.

4. List of Greek Scholars :
1.Homer
2.Thales
3.Anaximander
4.Hacateaeus
5.Herodotus
6.Plato
7.Aristotle
8.Eratosthenes

5. Homer(750BC-700BC)
Key Points on Homer:
[i] Homer was a great poet
[ii] His work ‘Illiad’ & ‘Odessey’ (Describes Trojan War)
[iii] He describes four winds: [a] Bores (north wind), [b] Eurus
(east wind), [c] Notus(south wind), [d] Zephyrus (west wind)

6. Thales(624BC-545BC)
•Key Points on Thales.
•[i] Originated several theorems of geometry.
•[ii] Earth is disc/flat shape.
•[iii] Cosmology based on water as the essence of all matter.
•[iv] Founder of Mathematical Geography

7. Anaximander(610BC-546BC)
•Key Points on Anaximander
•[1] Anaximander was disciple/student of Thales.
•[2] He introduced Babylonian instrument known as Gnomon.
•[3] He prepared first map of the world to scale.mjy
•[4] His map was circular and bounded on all sides by ocean river.
•[5] Often called as Father of Cosmology and Founder of Astronomy.
•[6] Latitude and longitude term coined by him.
•[7] Anaximander is also known as Founder of mathematical Geography.

8. Hecateaeus(the Father of Geography) (550
BC –476 BC)
•Key Points on Hecateaeus:
•[1] He is known as Father of Geography.
•[2] His main book is Ges-Periods (Description of the Earth)
•[3] He was the first writer of Greek prose.
•[4] His work Periplus(Greek word)
•meaning coastal survey.
•[5] He divided world into two parts: (i) Europa, and (ii) Libya (Africa including
Asia).
•[6] Hecateausgave two approaches in geography –a. Nomothetic (Law making)
b. Idiographic (Descriptive).
•[7] Earth is a circular plane.

9. Herodotus (The Father of History) (485-425
BC):
•Key Points on Herodotus:
•[1] He is regarded as Father of History.
•[2] Ethnographer
•[3] He advocated that ‘All history must be treated geographically and all
geography must be treated historically.’
•[4] First Scholar to draw a meridian in the world map
•[5] First scholar who regarded Caspian Sea as an inland sea.
•[6] Shape of the Earth –Flat disc.
•[7] Divided world landmass into three continents Europe, Asia and Libya.
•[8] Egypt is a gift of river Nile.
•[9] First time gave concept on winds moves from cold to hot places.

10. [6] Plato: (428-347 BC):
•Key Points on Plato:
•[1] Master of deductive reasoning –from the general to the
particular.
•[2] Idea of Round Earth
•[3] Barren land –“like skeleton of a sick man”
•[4] Man as an active agent.

11. Aristotle (384-322 BC):
•Key Points on Aristotle:
•[1] Master of inductive reasoning –from the particular to the
general.
•[2] Idea of Spherical Earth
•[3] Formulated laws or fundamental principles of scientific
explanation.
•[4] Book: Meteorologica–describe about the origin of tides.

12. Eratosthenes (276-194 BC):
•Key Points on Eratosthenes
•[1] First scientific Geographer
•[2] The term geography was first coined by Eratosthenese
•[3] Father of Geodesy
•[4] Founder of Systematic Geography
•[5] He adopted view of Aristotle & regarded the shape of the earth as sphere.
•[6] He developed systems of latitudes and longitudes
•[7] He measure accurate length of equator
•[8] Circumferences of the earth by Eratosthenes 25000 miles, but actual 24860
miles

13. Thank you??????