Under Ptolemaic rule the economy prospered, based largely on the export of horses and silphium, a plant used for rich seasoning and medicine. Ptolemy's Contributions to Geography - ThoughtCo He also calculated the Earths tilt axis. He may have measured the distances from Earth to both the Moon and to the Sun, but the historical accounts of both deeds are rather cryptic. Eratosthenes was born in Cyrene which is now in Libya in North Africa. The first book of "Geography" contained a summary of existing geographical work and Eratosthenes' speculations about the nature of the planet Earth. He also made a chart with the chronology of the Egyptian kings of Thebes, wrote about the conquests of Alexander the Great, and made a description of Greece at that time. Alexander the Great conquered Cyrene in 332 BC, and following his death in 323 BC, its rule was given to one of his generals, Ptolemy I Soter, the founder of the Ptolemaic Kingdom. NASA - Eratosthenes Crater and the Lunar Timescale Learn everything about the Oceanography from scratch and become a master of this topic with quiz based flashcards. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Pacific Ocean- Largest, deepest, lots of islands and seamounts. Eratosthenes experiment was highly regarded at the time, and his estimate of the Earths size was accepted for hundreds of years afterwards. Earth was considered as the centre of the universe, around which revolved the seven planets. [20] He placed grids of overlapping lines over the surface of the Earth. Several astronomers and mathematicians tried to accurately measure the circumference of the Earth before and after Eratosthenes, but it was Eratosthenes who succeeded. [1] However, his Geography has been lost to history, although fragments of the work can be pieced together from other great historians like Pliny, Polybius, Strabo, and Marcianus. A polymath who served as librarian at Alexandria and tutor to the future King Ptolemy IV, Eratosthenes created the terminology of . Despite not having a prominent ancestry, Eratosthenes did come from a city that had achieved recognition by the men who were born in it. establishing a center for the study of marine science and navigation in Portugal. Hipparchus divided the Earth's surface into 360 degrees. Required fields are marked *. The numbers from one to 400 are written in a table, with the numbers one to 20 across the top row. Eratosthenes, in full Eratosthenes of Cyrene, (born c. 276 bce, Cyrene, Libyadied c. 194 bce, Alexandria, Egypt), Greek scientific writer, astronomer, and poet, who made the first measurement of the size of Earth for which any details are known. Thus began the fame of Eratosthenes, since in his new field he achieved the recognition he had desired. Polynesian Seafarers - Dive & Discover He was born in 271 BC in Cyrene, which is now known as Libya, in North Africa. He was the founder of Geography and holds the credit to . Eratosthenes' other contributions include: The Sieve of Eratosthenes as a way of finding prime numbers. With the parallels and meridians, Eratosthenes located the known countries and cities. The first discussed the problems of representing a spherical earth on a flat sheet . He created one of the earliest maps of the known world between 276-195 BC, but his greatest contribution was the concept of latitude and longitude. But he did not find in them a style that appealed to him. Each fragment is accompanied by an English translation, a summary, and commentary. Uf Women's Studies Electives, The psychological effects of incarceration: what goes on in the minds of prisoners? In the text, he described the inhabited earth and the people who lived there. However, it was in geography where he proved to be more skillful for he was one of the greatest of all ancient geographers. The Greeks made tremendous advancements in the fields of geomorphology, climatology and oceanography. Islandwide Breakfast Delivery, Eratosthenes Contribution to Geography Eratosthenes (276-194 BC) Eratosthenes was a Greek mathematician, geographer, astronomer & poet. Plutarch's similar discussion claiming that Alexander ignored. Eratosthenes: biography and contributions to geography and mathematics Eratosthenes died in his 80s in Alexandria, Egypt. Digital Radiography Technique, During his life Eratosthenes was a lover of knowledge in all its areas. Eratosthenes died in Alexandria, approximately in 194 BC, when he was 82 years old. Cyrene was absorbed into the Ptolemaic monarchy of Egypt, which ruled from Alexandria, the cultural and commercial center of the Mediterranean. A Tradition of Exploration Norwegian pioneers throughout history The Viking Age From 800 to 1066 AD, the Vikings journeyed in their longships to explore and establish trade around Europe. And afterwards, Uranio Zeus, may the scepter of your hand guide it. He made two important contributions, out of which one was later proved wrong, while the other was right, but it was overlooked for a long time. [1] Cyrene became a place of cultivation, where knowledge blossomed. Ptolemy made contributions to astronomy, mathematics, geography, musical theory, and optics. Eratosthenes is said to have coined the term geography in Ancient Greece. He was the first to affirm that the heavy rains in the headwaters could explain the floods in the lower part of the flow. Using his discoveries and knowledge of its size and shape, he began to sketch it. Oceanography - Art of Problem Solving Eratosthenes was a famous mathematician who developed latitude and longitude as a way to measure the Earth. He was the inventor of Geography and is responsible for calculating the Earths circumference. In addition to calculating Earths circumference, Eratosthenes created the Sieve of Eratosthenes (a procedure for finding prime numbers), tried to fix the dates of literary and political events since the siege of Troy, and is thought to have created the armillary sphere (an early astronomical device for representing the great circles of the heavens). One of the Greeks primary contributions to oceanography and seafaring is the latitude/longitude system. Arabs were highly influenced by the Greek ideas about the shape and size of the earth. [6] His devotees nicknamed him Pentathlos after the Olympians who were well rounded competitors, for he had proven himself to be knowledgeable in every area of learning. He never married. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2010. Definition. [8], The son of Aglaos, Eratosthenes was born in 276 BC in Cyrene. Some people believe that Eratosthenes starved himself to death on purpose after going blind. Location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, and geography are the five themes of geography. However, it was in geography where he proved to be more skillful for he was one of the greatest of all ancient geographers. Moreover, he conceived the peninsula of India Pointing towards the south-west, instead of south. After these experiences, he became disenchanted with philosophy and decided to dedicate himself to poetry. Zihuatanejo Beach Shawshank, He is regarded as the first scientific geographer who measured the length of the equator almost accurately (24860 miles) on sound principles with the help of gnomon. 2. They also were among the first people to use astronomical observations of the stars to help them navigate across the ocean. Eratosthenes may have been the first to use the word geography. 2. He is also regarded as the Father of Geography.. Eratosthenes made major contributions to geography. Oceanography; Geography of Environment; Population & Settlement Geography; Economic Geography; . This work was highly esteemed for its accuracy. Eratosthenes was educated in philosophy and mathematics in Athens. Defending the theory that vision is due to a flow emanating from the eye, Ptolemy analyzed the reflection of light on flat and spherical mirrors, and its refraction when it crosses the surface between two transparent media. I. Eratosthenes made maps, both of the world and sky and is said to have made a map that includes 675 stars. 285-205 BC) invented the discipline of geography as we understand it. Kerry Liverpool Supporters Club, Eratosthenes of Cyrene (/ r t s n i z /; Greek: [eratostns]; c. 276 BC - c. 195/194 BC) was a Greek polymath: a mathematician, geographer, poet, astronomer, and music theorist.He was a man of learning, becoming the chief librarian at the Library of Alexandria.His work is comparable to what is now known as the study of geography, and he . Cyrene, then a Greek city, is now the town of Shahhat in Libya. The simplified method works by considering two cities along the same meridian and measuring both the distance between them and the difference in angles of the shadows cast by the sun on a vertical rod (a gnomon) in each city at noon on the summer solstice. He also claimed that the rivers source was lakes. Whats a physical geographer? Explained by Sharing Culture The ancient Greek scholar Eratosthenes is dubbed the father of geography. He was the first to use the word geography, and he also had a small-scale understanding of the planet that helped him determine the earths circumference. In 1870, Dr. C. Wyville Thomson suggested that the Royal Society of London ask the British government for the use of one of its ships for an extended . Eratosthenes united and organized in this work different information that he found in the Library of Alexandria. Oceanic area = 303x10^6km^2 (59.4%) 11.5% of Earth is continent below sea level. What were Eratosthenes major achievements? At the age of about 50 he returned to Alexandria and soon became director of the Library. [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, PDF Name: Eratosthenes Contribution to Geography Notes by Netset Corner, Chronologically Arranged Schools and Associate Scholars. Eratosthenes noted that at Alexandria, at the same date and time, sunlight fell at an angle of about 7.2 from the vertical. Eratosthenes is also known for his achievement in astronomy. He also measured the degree of obliquity of the ecliptic (in effect, the tilt of Earths axis) and wrote a treatise on the octateris, an eight-year lunar-solar cycle. 2, 1977. Eratosthenes was born in the Greek colony Cyrene, now the city of Shahhat, Libya. % complete geography term coined by Eratosthenes - Geographer Corner He made a catalog of 675 stars. He studied at Plato's school in Athens. Geography was defined by Hettner as the earths chorological science. With these data (length of the shadow and length of the rod), Eratosthenes calculated the angle of the sun's rays in 1/50 of a circumference. Geography is the study of Earths natural environment and human society, as well as how society and nature interact. Vol. The inscription that Eratosthenes made in the mesolabe that he gave to Ptolemy III, said: "This you have at hand, friend, if you want to get double a small cube, or that transformation into any other solid figure, and also if you measure in this way an enclosure or a silo or the concave cavity of a well when you take the concurrences means between extreme limits within double rules . Among the ancient Greek scholars Herodotus, Plato, Aristotle, Eratosthenes is the chief ones. The first place must go to Eratosthenes, the man who coined the term "geography" between 275 and 194 BC. Aristarchus was one of the first astronomers to calculate the relative sizes of the Sun, the Moon and the Earth. He published a book that he called GeographikaIt was there that he first coined the term geography. Eratosthenes was the first person to use the word "geography" and other geographical terms that are still in use today, and his efforts to calculate the circumference of the Earth and the distance from the Earth to the Sun paved the way for our modern understanding of the cosmos. PDF List Of World Capitals By Countries Wordpress Bailey, Ellen. Modern Geographys founder, Alexander von Humboldt. He accurately depicted the Niles route to Khartoum, as well as the two Ethiopian tributaries. Christopher Columbus was one of those who studied the work of Eratosthenes. Contributions of Arab Geographers - Exclusive Notes on Geography (Writing before the Greeks adopted the degree, a Babylonian unit of measure, he actually said a fiftieth of a circle.) He correctly assumed the Suns distance to be very great; its rays therefore are practically parallel when they reach Earth. He sketched, quite accurately, the route of the Nile to Khartoum, showing the two Ethiopian tributaries. He set the circumference measurement at 252,000 stadia, which is approximately 39,691 kilometers. Earlier estimates of the circumference of Earth had been made (for example, Aristotle says that some mathematicians had obtained a value of 400,000 stadia), but no details of their methods have survived. Eckerman, C. (2011). There he first coined the term "geography" and used his discoveries regarding the size and shape of the earth to represent it. 2011. Like any young Greek at the time, Eratosthenes would have studied in the local gymnasium, where he would have learned physical skills and social discourse as well as reading, writing, arithmetic, poetry, and music.[9]. Eratosthenes' is believed to be the first person to attempt a determination of the size of the Earth through measurement. The first number following two that is not crossed off will be . 2. Among the ancient Greek scholars Herodotus, Plato, Aristotle, Eratosthenes is the chief ones. [10] He then studied under Aristo of Chios, who led a more cynical school of philosophy. Hipparchus (c. 190120 bce) was the first to construct a table of values for a trigonometric function. It is used in oceanography in calculating the height of tides in oceans. environment that offers balanced, up-to-date coverage of geology, oceanography, astronomy, and meteorology. Cyrene was founded by Greeks from Thera before 600 BC, and it prospered as an independent city until the arrival of the Hellenic era. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2010. Eratosthenes (276 BC - 194 BC) - Biography - MacTutor History of Eratosthenes made several important contributions to mathematics and science, and was a friend of Archimedes, the great mathematician. He compiled a star catalog and the earliest surviving table of a trigonometric function and established mathematically that an object and its mirror image must make equal angles to a mirror. . Your email address will not be published. "La climatologie d'ratosthne Posidonios: gense d'une science humaine". According to Strabo, Eratosthenes argued against the Greek-Barbarian dichotomy. The first spot has to go to the man who coined the term geography, Eratosthenes (c. 275-194 BC). There it remained, approximately, for 25 years. Learn, revise and practice all the mocks questions related to the Oceanography with our simple and easy Flashcard quizzes How far from the correct value was Erathosthenes? The actual circumference of the Earth is 24,874 miles (40,032 kilometers). III. [17] In his three-volume work Geography (Greek: Geographika), he described and mapped his entire known world, even dividing the Earth into five climate zones:[18] two freezing zones around the poles, two temperate zones, and a zone encompassing the equator and the tropics. His writings included a poem inspired by astronomy, as well as works on the theatre and on ethics. Eratosthenes, in full Eratosthenes of Cyrene, (born c. 276 bce, Cyrene, Libyadied c. 194 bce, Alexandria, Egypt), Greek scientific writer, astronomer, and poet, who made the first measurement of the size of Earth for which any details are known. His interest in Plato led him to write his very first work at a scholarly level, Platonikos, inquiring into the mathematical foundation of Plato's philosophies. More than 400 places appeared in that work, but it was lost, except for the references of historians of the time. George Syncellus was later able to preserve from Chronographies a list of 38 kings of the Egyptian Thebes. He calculated the circumference of the Earth to be about 252,000 stadi which is equal to about 24,662 miles. How did Eratosthenes contribute to oceanography? Euclid, Greek Eukleides, (flourished c. 300 bce, Alexandria, Egypt), the most prominent mathematician of Greco-Roman antiquity, best known for his treatise on geometry, the Elements. He believed it was a fixed globe whose changes only took place on the surface. Eratosthenes' method of measuring Earth's circumference, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eratosthenes, Famous Scientists - Biography of Eratosthenes, Ancient History Encyclopedia - Biography of Eratosthenes, Eratosthenes - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Read about the life of Eratosthenes. He first studied with Zeno at the school of the Stoics. He lived and worked for most of his life in the city of Alexandria in Egypt. % complete First maps showing water (river charts) 3800 B.C. He also calculated the tilt axis of the Earth. Despite the fact that in Greek times young people from wealthy families had more access to education, there were male academies. ing of the Eratosthenes Seamount could clearly provide invaluable information regarding the oceanography and the tectonics of the east-ern Mediterranean in pre-Messinian time (McCoy and Mart, 1988; Robertson, 1992) Woodside (1977) also noted the occurrence of a 200-km-wide magnetic anomaly underneath the seamount.