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History of Geographical Thought

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(1)

Weeks 3 & 4:

Weeks 3 & 4:

Classical Greek

(2)

Classical Greek Contributions

Classical Greek Contributions

Geography is derived from two Greek

Geography is derived from two Greek

words,

words,

Ge

Ge

– Earth, and

– Earth, and

Graphe

Graphe

– 

– 

Description.

Description.

 Coined by Greek Geographer Eratosthenes whoCoined by Greek Geographer Eratosthenes who

viewed geography as descriptions of the earth. viewed geography as descriptions of the earth.

 But others (Egyptians, Sumerians, Phoenicians)But others (Egyptians, Sumerians, Phoenicians)

thought geographically before him, making thought geographically before him, making geography possibly as old as humanity itself. geography possibly as old as humanity itself.

 We are however mostly concerned with geographyWe are however mostly concerned with geography

as a systematic or organized body

as a systematic or organized body of knowledgeof knowledge with defined concepts and procedures.

(3)

The Greeks had…

The Greeks had…

 A geographic curiosity often associated withA geographic curiosity often associated with

commercial and military interests – and often commercial and military interests – and often extending beyond their empire.

extending beyond their empire.

 Seafaring skills and a need to improve them.Seafaring skills and a need to improve them.

 A robust mythology closely intertwined with aA robust mythology closely intertwined with a

 polytheistic belief system that contained a god   polytheistic belief system that contained a god 

for just about everything. for just about everything.

(4)
(5)
(6)

The Greeks had…

The Greeks had…

 A belief that celestial objects were epitomesA belief that celestial objects were epitomes

of gods, and therefore worthy of close of gods, and therefore worthy of close scrutiny.

scrutiny.

 A need for a geometry and associated toolsA need for a geometry and associated tools

to study the location and movement of  to study the location and movement of  celestial objects.

(7)

The Greeks didn’t have…

The Greeks didn’t have…

 At the beginning, any kind of informationAt the beginning, any kind of information

source (other than word of mouth) that we source (other than word of mouth) that we now take for granted.

now take for granted.

 Basic location and navigation skillsBasic location and navigation skills

(including the compass). (including the compass).

 An accurate system of measurement over An accurate system of measurement over 

long distances. long distances.

(8)

The Greeks didn’t have…

The Greeks didn’t have…

 An understanding of the shape and size of An understanding of the shape and size of 

earth and of basic earth-sun relationships. earth and of basic earth-sun relationships.

 A understanding of basic earth scienceA understanding of basic earth science

including erosion, deposition and  including erosion, deposition and  meteorology.

meteorology.

 An appreciation of the adaptability of humanAn appreciation of the adaptability of human

 beings to different climatic contexts.  beings to different climatic contexts.

(9)

Greek contributors

Greek contributors

 Homer Homer 

 Thales of MiletusThales of Miletus

  Anaximander Anaximander    HecataeusHecataeus   HerodotusHerodotus   PlatoPlato   AristotleAristotle 

 Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great

  PytheasPytheas   EratosthenesEratosthenes   HipparchusHipparchus   PosidoniusPosidonius   StraboStrabo

(10)

Homer 

Homer 

 Reportedly lived Reportedly lived 

sometime between 1300 sometime between 1300  – 850 BC.

 – 850 BC.

 Considered by some toConsidered by some to

 be “The father of   be “The father of 

geography” because

geography” because TheThe

Odyssey

Odyssey, one of his epic, one of his epic  poems, provides the

 poems, provides the

earliest geographical earliest geographical

description of the fringe description of the fringe of the Greek world.

of the Greek world.

 Also Wrote the Iliad Also Wrote the Iliad 

(1280-1180 BC) –Mostly (1280-1180 BC) –Mostly historical. historical. The Odyssey The Odyssey

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Thales of Miletus

Thales of Miletus

(ca. 624 – ca. 546 BC)

(ca. 624 – ca. 546 BC)

 Advocated for a rational explanation of theAdvocated for a rational explanation of the

natural realm without reference to mythology. natural realm without reference to mythology.

 Major Major contributor contributor to to field field of of geometry geometry (e.g. (e.g. circlecircle

divided into two by diameter) and astronomy. divided into two by diameter) and astronomy.

 Credited with the development of the mathematicalCredited with the development of the mathematical

tradition

tradition for for his his concern concern with with measures measures of of 

location, distance and areas of things on the earth’s location, distance and areas of things on the earth’s surface (possibly for personal business reasons).

surface (possibly for personal business reasons).

 Speculated about the origins of the earth and Speculated about the origins of the earth and 

roposed a flat disc earth floating on water. roposed a flat disc earth floating on water.

(12)

Teleological explanation vs. Mechanical explanation Teleological explanation vs. Mechanical explanation

Mechanical explanation

Mechanical explanation 

 Phenomena and observations are thePhenomena and observations are the

results of purely natural (non-divine)

results of purely natural (non-divine)

causes.

causes. 

 As related to geography, Earth’sAs related to geography, Earth’s

attributes are the products of natural

attributes are the products of natural

 processes tha

 processes that may be t may be explained byexplained by

 physics, m

 physics, mathematics, athematics, biology and biology and 

other realms of human knowledge

other realms of human knowledge

whose contents rely on careful

whose contents rely on careful

observation, verification and testing.

observation, verification and testing. 

 Established explanations must be ableEstablished explanations must be able

to withstand “the test of

to withstand “the test of time.” Thus,time.” Thus,

they may be replaced if subsequent

they may be replaced if subsequent

observation and analysis provide new

observation and analysis provide new

explanations that are superior to old 

explanations that are superior to old 

ones.

ones.

Teleological explanation Teleological explanation

 From the Greek From the Greek teleosteleos, meaning, meaning

“purpose” or “end”. “purpose” or “end”.

 Things happen for a reason or purposeThings happen for a reason or purpose

that suggests Divine will. that suggests Divine will.

 As related to geography, God’s will isAs related to geography, God’s will is

revealed in nature as well as in revealed in nature as well as in scripture.

scripture.

 The world we inhabit was created byThe world we inhabit was created by

God and

God and exhibits an order, complexityexhibits an order, complexity and purpose as designed by the

and purpose as designed by the Creator.

Creator.

 A careful inventorying of the world’sA careful inventorying of the world’s

attributes, as by geographical attributes, as by geographical

exploration and analysis, may help us exploration and analysis, may help us understand God’s will even as it

understand God’s will even as it  proves God’

(13)

Anaximander 

Anaximander 

(ca. 610 – ca. 546 BC)

(ca. 610 – ca. 546 BC)

 Disciple of ThalesDisciple of Thales

 Claimed that nature is ruled by laws, just likeClaimed that nature is ruled by laws, just like

human society. human society.

 Introduced the gnomon/Sundial (Babylonian) toIntroduced the gnomon/Sundial (Babylonian) to

Greece. Greece.

(14)

From the gnomon it was possible to tell the From the gnomon it was possible to tell the varying positions of the sun, being shortest at varying positions of the sun, being shortest at noon. Varying noon shadow lengths from season noon. Varying noon shadow lengths from season to season also helped to establish whether it was to season also helped to establish whether it was

summer solstice (shortest) or winter solstice summer solstice (shortest) or winter solstice

(longest). The direction of shadows at sunrise and  (longest). The direction of shadows at sunrise and 

sunset also helped to tell the time of the equinox sunset also helped to tell the time of the equinox

(sunrise and sunset shadows are colinear but (sunrise and sunset shadows are colinear but

opposite. opposite.

(15)

Anaximander 

Anaximander 

 Credited for being firstCredited for being first

Greek to draw a world  Greek to draw a world  map with distance and  map with distance and  direction to scale.

direction to scale.

 Helped establish theHelped establish the

cartographic tradition. cartographic tradition.

 Tried to explain howTried to explain how

sun rises in the east and  sun rises in the east and  sets in the west but

sets in the west but

rises again in the east. rises again in the east.

(16)

Hecataeus

Hecataeus

(ca. 550 – ca. 475 BC)

(ca. 550 – ca. 475 BC)

  No known artistic portrayal;  No known artistic portrayal; name may refer toname may refer to

more than one person. more than one person.

 Credited with the literary tradition.Credited with the literary tradition.

 Advocated Advocated taking taking stock stock of of what what is is around around usus

and

and putting putting the the accumulated accumulated knowledge knowledge of of thethe world together in a usable form.

world together in a usable form.

 First known Greek to collect and classifyFirst known Greek to collect and classify

information brought to Miletus not only from information brought to Miletus not only from the known Greek world, but also from

the known Greek world, but also from unknown lands beyond.

(17)

Hecataeus

Hecataeus

(ca. 550 – ca. 475 BC)

(ca. 550 – ca. 475 BC)

 A principal founder of A principal founder of 

idiographic/descriptive idiographic/descriptive tradition in geography. tradition in geography.

 Used Used  Europe Europe,, Asia Asia, and , and 

 Libya

 Libya as regionalas regional

divisions for his world  divisions for his world  geography.

(18)

Herodotus

Herodotus

(484 – ca. 425 BC)

(484 – ca. 425 BC)

 Stressed the interrelationship between history and Stressed the interrelationship between history and 

geography ‘all history must be treated geographically geography ‘all history must be treated geographically and all geography must

and all geography must be treated historically’be treated historically’

 Travelled widely – knew the shores of theTravelled widely – knew the shores of the

Mediterranean, travell

Mediterranean, travelled several days ed several days northward acrossnorthward across the Russian steppes, went eastwards over the

the Russian steppes, went eastwards over the PersianPersian Empire and south to Egypt.

Empire and south to Egypt.

 Argued against the tradition of dividing Asians fromArgued against the tradition of dividing Asians from

Libyans along the Nile river and insisted Egyptians are Libyans along the Nile river and insisted Egyptians are

(19)

 Applied historical geographical methods toApplied historical geographical methods to

correctly

correctly interpret interpret the the Nile Nile delta delta as as beingbeing formed by silt deposits from Ethiopia.

formed by silt deposits from Ethiopia.

 He was also fascinated by the summer floodingHe was also fascinated by the summer flooding

of the Nile since other rivers flooded in winter. of the Nile since other rivers flooded in winter.

 Also credited with the idea of the wind blowingAlso credited with the idea of the wind blowing

from colder to warmer places. from colder to warmer places.

 Sought explanations that reflected the notion of Sought explanations that reflected the notion of 

an earth that was arranged symmetrically. an earth that was arranged symmetrically.

(20)

Herodotus

Herodotus

 Mapped the known world with the MediterraneanMapped the known world with the Mediterranean

in the center and surrounded by Oceanus. in the center and surrounded by Oceanus.

(21)

Plato

Plato

(428 – 348 BC)

(428 – 348 BC)

 Master at deductive reasoning – Master at deductive reasoning – 

 Deductive Method involves theorizing from theDeductive Method involves theorizing from the

general to particular events. general to particular events.

General/intuition/theory

General/intuition/theory Particular Particular EventEvent

 Proposed the idea that the world was deterioratingProposed the idea that the world was deteriorating

from perfect state. Could well be the source of the from perfect state. Could well be the source of the notion of environmental degradation.

notion of environmental degradation.

 Questioned the belief of a flat earth and confirmed Questioned the belief of a flat earth and confirmed 

Pythagora’s (6

Pythagora’s (6thth century BC) hypothesis of acentury BC) hypothesis of a spherical earth.

(22)

Plato

Plato

 Appears to be the firstAppears to be the first

Greek philosopher to Greek philosopher to announce and look for  announce and look for  evidence to support the evidence to support the concept of a round earth concept of a round earth centrally located in the centrally located in the universe with celestial universe with celestial  bodies in circular 

 bodies in circular  motion around it. motion around it.

(23)

Aristotle

Aristotle

(384-322 BC)

(384-322 BC)

Master of inductive reasoning

Master of inductive reasoning

 generalizing or formulating theories fromgeneralizing or formulating theories from

particular cases/events particular cases/events

 Particular Particular General/TheoryGeneral/Theory

Suggested the physical environment is

Suggested the physical environment is

improving towards a perfect state.

improving towards a perfect state.

Sought an explanation of Plato’s idea of a

Sought an explanation of Plato’s idea of a

spherical earth.

spherical earth.

(24)

Aristotle

Aristotle

(384-322 BC)

(384-322 BC)

Postulated the concept of varying habitability

Postulated the concept of varying habitability

of the earth based on latitude. Accordingly:

of the earth based on latitude. Accordingly:

 The world consists of 5 climatic zonesThe world consists of 5 climatic zones 

 TheThe torrid zonetorrid zone centered on the equator iscentered on the equator is

uninhabitabl

uninhabitable – e – excessive heat.excessive heat.

 TheThe frigid zonefrigid zone centered on the north and centered on the north and southsouth

poles is uninhabitable – too cold. poles is uninhabitable – too cold.

 An An intermediate/temperate zoneintermediate/temperate zone called ekumenecalled ekumene

located between the tropics and arctic and located between the tropics and arctic and  Antarctic is habitab

(25)

References

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