WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY? Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY?

Geography is essentially a SURVIVAL skill! BIG IDEA Geography is essentially a SURVIVAL skill!

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography EARLY PEOPLE 500 1000 1500 2000 BC or BCE Ad or CE Early people studied the land for practical purposes – for food, trade routes, “dangerous lands”, hunting

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography Early people studied the land for practical purposes – food, trade routes, “dangerous lands”, hunting

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography ERATOSTHENES Ἐρατοσθένης THE GREEKS ERATOSTHENES - head librarian at Alexandria (Third Century BC) Known for his accurate computation of the earth’s circumference. Coined the word “geography” (earth writing) “Eratosthenes (276?-194? BC), the first person of record to use the word GEOGRAPHY, also accepted that Earth was spherical and calculated its circumference within a remarkable 0.5 percent accuracy. He prepared one of the earliest maps of the known world, correctly dividing Earth into five climatic regions.” (RUBENSTEIN, 8) “Because the Greeks and Romans were empire builders, scholars developed an interest in mapping landholdings and charting new places. Thus during their height of those empires, from 1000 BCE to 500 CE, the discipline of geography was born. The Greeks and Romans had great interest in geographic inquiry. The Greek philosopher Aristotle was the first to show that the earth was spherical. Eratosthenes calculated the circumference of the earth and coined the word geography to mean “to write about the earth.” He also created one of the earliest maps of the world and its climatic zones.” (REA, 29-31) 500 1000 1500 2000 BC or BCE Ad or CE

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography Eratosthenes was the head librarian at Alexandria during the third century B.C. (born 276 BC) One of his greatest accomplishments was a remarkable accurate computation of the earth’s circumference, which he based on the sun’s angle at the summer solstice and the distance between the two Egyptian cities of Alexandria and Syrene – 99.5% accurate. He also coined the word GEOGRAPHY which means “EARTH WRITING”.

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography PTOLEMY Κλαύδιος Πτολεμαῖος THE ROMANS PTOLEMY (Second Century AD) Guide to Geography - created rough maps of landmasses Global grid system “Two thousand years ago, the Roman Empire controlled an extensive area of the known world, including much of Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. Taking advantage of information collected by merchants and soldiers who traveled through the Roman Empire, the Greek PTOLEMY (A.D. 100?-170?) wrote an eight-volume Guide to Geography. He codified basis principles of mapmaking and prepared numerous maps, which were not improved upon for more than a thousand years. . . “We can’t truly understand the Greeks and romans without good maps that show us their world.” (RUBENSTEIN, 8) “Ptolemy wrote his eight-volume Guide to Geography, the first text to define the basic principles of geographic study and show examples of detailed maps.” (REA, 31) 500 1000 1500 2000 BC or BCE Ad or CE

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography Ptolemy (AD 90) wrote a book GUIDE TO GEOGRAPHY . Also made rough maps of landmasses, and a global grid system.

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography AL-IDRISI بو عبد الله محمد الإدريسي‎; THE ARABS (Abu 'Abdallah Muhammad bin Muhammad 'Abdallah bin Idris al-Hammudi al-Hasani) Al-IDRISI (1100-1165?) Prepared a world map and geography text in 1154, building on the work of Ptolemy. “The Muslim geographer al-Idrisi (1100-1165?) prepared a world map and geography text in 1154, building on Ptolemy’s long-neglected work.” (RUBENSTEIN, 9) 500 1000 1500 2000 BC or BCE Ad or CE

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography Al-Idrisi (1154) constructed a world map and wrote “Roger’s Book” – His map was used by Columbus in his travels. Descendant of the Prophet Mohammed, and was directed by Roger II, the Christian king of Sicily to collect all known geographic information and assemble it in a truly accurate representation of the world. This process took 15 years and the final world map was placed on a silver disc weighing 300 pounds and 80 inches in diameter.

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography Columbus used this map

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography IBN-BATTUTAH أبو عبد الله محمد ابن عبد الله اللواتي الطنجي بن بطوطة‎ THE ARABS Hajji Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Al Lawati Al Tanji Ibn Battuta IBN-BATTUTAH (1304-1368?) Wrote Rihlah (“Travels”) based on three decades of journeys covering more than 75,000 miles (120,000 kilometers) throughout Northern Africa, Asia, and Europe 500 1000 1500 2000 BC or BCE Ad or CE

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography Ibn-Battutah (1304-1368) wrote “Rihlah” (Travels) based on three decades of journeys covering more than 120,000 kilometers (75,000 miles).

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography ZHENG HE 鄭和 THE CHINESE 500 1000 1500 2000 BC or BCE Ad or CE

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography Famous Chinese explorer – speculation that Zheng He may have reached the West Coast of the United States 72 years before Columbus set sail. However, the Emperor of China (“the Middle Kingdom”) closed of its borders to the outside world after Zheng He’s voyages. The Chinese burned all their trading and exploration ships, thus preventing the possibility of further geographic exploration for more than 400 years.

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography The EXPLORERS THE EUROPEANS 500 1000 1500 2000 BC or BCE Ad or CE

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography dias magellan Columbus

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography G. MERCATOR THE EUROPEANS “A revival of geography and mapmaking occurred during the Age of Exploration and Discovery. Ptolemy’s maps were rediscovered, and his writings were translated into European languages. Columbus, Magellan, and other explorers who sailed across the oceans in search of trade routes and resources required accurate maps to reach desired destinations without wrecking their ships. In turn, cartographers, such as Gerardus Mercator (1512-1594 and Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598) took information collected by the explorers to create more accurate maps.” (RUBENSTEIN, 9) 500 1000 1500 2000 BC or BCE Ad or CE

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography Cartographer Gerardus Mercator (1512-1594) took information collected by the explorers to create more accurate maps.

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography Map of the world made in 1571 by Flemish cartographer Abraham Ortelius (1527-1698). What do you notice about the coastlines? Are they fairly accurate?

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography MODERN PERIOD 1800’s 500 1000 1500 2000 BC or BCE Ad or CE

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography 1830

Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography Geography is interesting! 1888

Subfields of Geography Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography Subfields of Geography Geography’s specialized subfields are interconnected – they rely on each other. Geography examines relationships between human societies and the natural environments that they occupy and modify. Fellmann, pg. 4-5 Physical Human