Weeks 3 & 4:
Weeks 3 & 4:
Classical Greek
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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’
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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