1. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY?
Lecture History of Geography
WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY?

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

3. Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography
EARLY PEOPLE
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Ad or CE
Early people studied the land for practical purposes – for food, trade routes, “dangerous lands”, hunting

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

5. 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)
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6. 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”.

7. 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)
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8. 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.

9. Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography

10. Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography

11. 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 ( ?)
Prepared a world map and geography text in 1154, building on the work of Ptolemy.
“The Muslim geographer al-Idrisi ( ?) prepared a world map and geography text in 1154, building on Ptolemy’s long-neglected work.” (RUBENSTEIN, 9)
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12. 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.

13. Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography
Columbus used this map

14. 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 ( ?)
Wrote Rihlah (“Travels”) based on three decades of journeys covering more than 75,000 miles (120,000 kilometers) throughout Northern Africa, Asia, and Europe
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15. Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography
Ibn-Battutah ( ) wrote “Rihlah” (Travels) based on three decades of journeys covering more than 120,000 kilometers (75,000 miles).

16. Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography

17. Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography
ZHENG HE 鄭和
THE CHINESE
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18. 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.

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The EXPLORERS
THE EUROPEANS
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dias
magellan
Columbus

22. 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 ( and Abraham Ortelius ( ) took information collected by the explorers to create more accurate maps.” (RUBENSTEIN, 9)
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23. Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography
Cartographer Gerardus Mercator ( ) took information collected by the explorers to create more accurate maps.

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

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MODERN PERIOD
1800’s
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1830

28. Lecture 1.2 - History of Geography
Geography is interesting!
1888

29. Subfields of Geography
Lecture 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