Then he continued: "And do not try to understand the intricate tasks of the Archytas cylinders or the triple cuts of the cone of Menechmus or what the curved figure of the divine Eudoxus describes in its lines, because in these tablets you will easily find thousands of means even starting from poor start . He published a book that he called GeographikaIt was there that he first coined the term geography. This meant that if he continued the light waves at Alexandria and the light waves at Syene, they would meet at a 7.2 degree angle at the center of the earth. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Ben-Avraham et al. He was the chief librarian of the Great Library of Alexandria. Prince Henry the navigators contribution to ocean exploration included? *Egyptians utilized the Nile River and created a commerce based on ship-based trade (4000 BC). Was nicknamed Beta by other Greeks of his time, in reference to the second letter of the alphabet. This algorithm is known in mathematics as the Sieve of Eratosthenes. The fact of being incarcerated and deprived of liberty it bring with it important p ychological con equence . Term. [12] As he aged, he contracted ophthalmia, becoming blind around 195 BC. Explanation: Eratosthenes was a geographer and mathematician from Ancient Greece who is known for using geometry to determine the circumference of the Earth. Alfred Hettner, who inherited the concept of chorology, further developed it. He created an algorithm to find prime numbers that is known as the Sieve of Eratosthenes. Thu, the different type of pecialized text will vary according to the ubject and p All Rights Reserved warbletoncouncil.org - 2023. 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. He also tried to determine the obliquity of the ecliptic. In a time when the ocean is threatened by climate change and pollution, coastlines are eroding, and entire species of marine life are at risk of extinction, the role of . He drew the meridian through Alexandria, Syene, Rhodes and the mouth of Boresthenes (Dniester). % complete First maps showing water (river charts) 3800 B.C. Using the precise data that Tycho had collected, Kepler discovered that the orbit of Mars was an ellipse. Now part of modern-day Libya, Cyrene had been founded by Greeks centuries earlier and became the capital of Pentapolis (North Africa), a country of five cities: Cyrene, Arsinoe, Berenice, Ptolemias, and Apollonia. As head of the library Eratosthenes tutored the children of Ptolemy, including Ptolemy IV Philopator who became the fourth Ptolemaic pharaoh. Eratosthenes (l. c. 276-195 BCE) was a Greek astronomer, geographer, mathematician, and poet best known for being the first to calculate the circumference of the earth and its axial tilt. The 200-foot ship was three-masted, square-rigged, and built of wood. He reportedly fell into despair, and he is said to have committed suicide by voluntary starvation in 194 as a result. By this they meant to say that Eratosthenes was second best in all areas, as he never wanted to specialize in any. Eratosthenes (276-195 BCE) was an ancient Greek Alexandrian scholar, native of Cyrene, who attained distinction in many fields including philosophy, mathematics, astronomy and history. Eratosthenes (276-195 BCE) was an ancient Greek Alexandrian scholar, native of Cyrene, who attained distinction in many fields including philosophy, mathematics, astronomy and history. Unfortunately, there are no documents left of his work after the destruction of the Library of Alexandria. George Syncellus was later able to preserve from Chronographies a list of 38 kings of the Egyptian Thebes. He reportedly fell into despair, and he is said to have committed suicide by voluntary starvation in 194 as a result. A geographer is a physical scientist, social scientist, or humanist whose field of study is geography. : 3373 , 02-3298322 A . However, it was in geography where he proved to be more skillful for he was one of the greatest of all ancient geographers. Definition. Hutchinson's Biography Database 1. Why is Eratosthenes called the father of geography? [9] He wrote poems: one in hexameters called Hermes, illustrating the god's life history; and another in elegiacs, called Erigone, describing the suicide of the Athenian maiden Erigone (daughter of Icarius). What did Eratosthenes study? In Alexandria, also in Egypt, at the same date and time, sunlight fell at an angle of about 7.2 from the vertical. The HMS Challenger originally was designed as a British warshipa steam corvette in the Royal Navyoutfitted with 17 guns and an engine capable of over 1,200 horsepower. Each fragment is accompanied by an English translation, a summary, and commentary. Todays measurement is 40,075 km. [4] He created the first global projection of the world, incorporating parallels and meridians based on the available geographic knowledge of his era. He also calculated the Earths tilt axis. He was a figure of influence in many fields who yearned to understand the complexities of the entire world. Contributions of Greeks in the field of Physical Geography: The Greeks made remarkable development in the field of physical geography. The city of Cyrene had spent an independent period from Egypt until the marriage between Ptolemy III and Berenice, the daughter of Magas, governor of that city. He calculated the Earth's circumference. [8], The son of Aglaos, Eratosthenes was born in 276 BC in Cyrene. Trigonometry in the modern sense began with the Greeks. This work was highly esteemed for its accuracy. Notable explorations were undertaken by the Greeks, the Romans, the Polynesians, the Phoenicians, Phytheas, Herodotus, the Vikings, the Portuguese and Muslims. Eratosthenes was a man of many talents. At Syene (now Aswn), some 800 km (500 miles) southeast of Alexandria in Egypt, the Suns rays fall vertically at noon at the summer solstice. Eratosthenes knew from readings he had taken in Alexandria that during the summer solstice in Siena, at noon the sun was just overhead. These six geographers are noteworthy for their contribution to the science of geography. #1 Vasco da Gama linked Europe and Asia through an ocean route for the first time The Age of Discovery was a period of global exploration that started in the early 15th century and was primarily initiated by Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal. Eratosthenes was born around 276 B.C., which is now Shahhat, Libya. March 2023; Geography is derived from the Greek words geo (the Earth in its broadest sense) and graphos (graphos (graphy), which means to write about. To write about the Earth in a literal sense. They also were among the first people to use astronomical observations of the stars to help them navigate across the ocean. The first book of "Geography" contained a summary of existing geographical work and Eratosthenes' speculations about the nature of the planet Earth. He lived in Athens until Ptolemy Evergetes, the king of Egypt, commissioned Eratosthenes to run the Library of Alexandria, which became the most important center of knowledge in the region. 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 . He was appointed as the Librarian of the Library of Alexandria-the post of highest academic honour of that period. Eratosthenes introduced latitude and longitude. Ptolemy III was not moved only by his interest in the work of Eratosthenes, but also by political motives. ". All Categories. Eratosthenes is said to have coined the term geography in Ancient Greece. He remained the librarian for about 40 years till his death. Arsinoe (a biography of Queen Arsinoe, wife and sister of Ptolemy IV). Eratosthenes of Cyrene (/rtsniz/; Greek: [eratostns]; c.276 BC c.195/194 BC) was a Greek polymath: a mathematician, geographer, poet, astronomer, and music theorist. He studied astronomy, geography, and math. All of the planets, except for Earth, were named after Greek and Roman gods and godesses. Ptolemy made contributions to astronomy, mathematics, geography, musical theory, and optics. The most enduring contribution of the Guidelines has been the articulation of the five fundamental themes of geography: 1) location; 2) place; 3) relationships within places (human-environmental interaction); 4) relationships between places (movement); and 5) regions. He also studied under the head of the Platonic Academy, who was Arcesilaus of Pitane. To calculate the circumference of the earth Eratosthenes used a method that has been used until our time, this consists of measuring a meridian. Sieve of Eratosthenes: algorithm steps for primes below 121 (including optimization of starting from the prime's square). The important contribution to navigation made by Eratosthenes in the third century BC was __________. The first spot has to go to the man who coined the term geography, Eratosthenes (c.275-194 BC). environment that offers balanced, up-to-date coverage of geology, oceanography, astronomy, and meteorology. He developed systems of latitudes and longitudes and ascertained accurate length of equator using Gnomon. He made maps, both of the world and sky and is said to have made a map that included 675 stars. On the basis of this The first person to determine the size of Earth was Eratosthenes of Cyrene, who produced a surprisingly good measurement using a simple scheme that combined geometrical calculations with physical observations. Eratosthenes was a Greek scientist who lived from 276 to 194 B.C. 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. Which common nonsilicate mineral is used in wallboard. He also realized that streams eroded continents and deposited sediments into the ocean. He wrote on many topics geography, mathematics, philosophy, chronology, literary criticism, grammar, poetry, and even old comedies. Kerry Liverpool Supporters Club, Eratosthenes was a lover of the theater and wrote a series of twelve books which he titled Old Comedy. As a young man, he traveled to Athens to pursue his studies. The correct answer is to determine the Earths circumference. This makes Hipparchus the founder of trigonometry. About 150 years later, Eratosthenes (264-194 B.C.) Eckerman, C. (2011). References to the works of Eratosthenes are preserved thanks to other authors, since when the library of Alexandria was lost, practically all of his work was lost. Geography is the study of locations and the relationships between people and their surroundings. These works and his great poetic abilities led the pharaoh Ptolemy III Euergetes to seek to place him as a librarian at the Library of Alexandria in the year 245 BC. They also expanded the studies in Sophocles. [1] Cyrene became a place of cultivation, where knowledge blossomed. Eratosthenes proposed a simple algorithm for finding prime numbers. Eratosthenes was one of the most pre-eminent scholarly figures of his time, and produced works covering a vast area of knowledge before and during his time at the Library. He studied at Plato's school in Athens. Unfortunately, other than a few scraps, little remains of Eratosthenes original work. Arab and Muslim contribution to geography was not only confined to astronomical and mathematical geography, but rather covered a wide range of the branches of the discipline known at the present time. Ptolemy studied the reflection of light on flat and spherical mirrors as well as its refraction when it crosses the surface between two transparent media, defending the theory that vision is caused by a flow emanating from the eye. to find all prime numbers between any two integers. He was the founder of Geography and holds the credit to calculate the circumference of the Earth. He was a man of learning, becoming the chief librarian at the Library of Alexandria. Who Can Benefit From Diaphragmatic Breathing? He is also recognized for his mathematical innovation, the Sieve of Eratosthenes, which identified prime numbers, and his position as head of the . What were the contributions of Eratosthenes, Hipparcus, and Ptolemy to oceanography? It is not known when he wrote his works, but they highlighted his abilities. Biography. Cyrene was absorbed into the Ptolemaic monarchy of Egypt, which ruled from Alexandria, the cultural and commercial center of the Mediterranean. Despite the fact that in Greek times young people from wealthy families had more access to education, there were male academies. salinity, waves, tides and winds. Technology such as electronics and space travel have provided important contributions to oceanography. Menu. Fragments Collected and Translated, with Commentary and Additional Material. It was said that these were copied so accurately that it was impossible to tell if the library had returned the original or the copy. Eratosthenes experiment was highly regarded at the time, and his estimate of the Earths size was accepted for hundreds of years afterwards. Around 255BC, he invented the armillary sphere. Thus began the fame of Eratosthenes, since in his new field he achieved the recognition he had desired. He was the founder of Geography and holds the credit to . Using his discoveries and knowledge of its size and shape, he began to sketch it. Chambers, James T. "Eratosthenes of Cyrene." Eratosthenes went to Alexandria and found out that the light hit the earth at an angle of 7.2 degrees. Required fields are marked *. He worked in geography to try to figure out why the Nile river had such a regular flood pattern, and hypothesized that it was because of heavy rain upstream. Eratosthenes went to Athens to further his studies. One of the main contributions of Eratosthenes to science and astronomy was his important work regarding They helped find new colonies, explored some of North America and were great navigators. Definition of Oceanography 1. His work is comparable to what is now known as the study of geography, and he introduced some of the terminology still used today.[1]. The name Earth is an English/German name which simply means the ground. Eratosthenes was afflicted by blindness in his old age, and he is said to have committed suicide by voluntary starvation. Eratosthenes made calculations in which he discovered that in a year there were 365 days and every four years there were 366 days. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Eratosthenes was a Greek scientist who lived from 276 to 194 B.C. Eratosthenes noted that at Alexandria, at the same date and time, sunlight fell at an angle of about 7.2 from the vertical. He also suggested that lakes were the source of the river. Name the major oceans and their main characteristics. Eratosthenes died in his 80s in Alexandria, Egypt. He was a renowned mathematician, poet, geographer, astronomer, and music theorist. Even though they were worriors, they had a huge impact on Oceanography today. Within about five years he became Chief Librarian, a position that the poet Apollonius Rhodius had previously held. His teachers included the scholar Lysanias of Cyrene and the philosopher Ariston of Chios who had studied under Zeno, the founder of the Stoic school of philosophy. Marcotte, D. (1998). He calculated the circumference of the Earth to be about 252,000 stadi which is equal to about 24,662 miles. Then numbers that are not prime are discarded. He says Alexander ignored his advisers by his regard for all people with law and government. 5 best Master's degrees in Clinical and Health Psychology to study in Spain, The 40 phrases of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, 7 keys for someone to open up more to you, The 10 most romantic cities on the planet, Social behavior: definition and explanatory theories, Postcoital dysphoria: symptoms, causes and treatment, Scriptophobia: symptoms, causes and treatment, Nematodes: characteristics, classification, reproduction, nutrition, Specialized texts: characteristics, structure, types, examples. Aves, A., Magill, F. and Moose, C. (1998). At present it is known that the equatorial diameter is 40,075 kilometers. An account of Eratosthenes method is preserved in the Greek astronomer Cleomedes Meteora. After study in Alexandria and Athens, Eratosthenes settled in Alexandria about 255 bce and became director of the great library there. Eratosthenes (276 BC - 194 BC) was an Ancient Greek scientist and philosopher who did work in astronomy, geometry, geography, mathematics, as well as poetry and history. Business Opportunities (5) . Leaving Cape Town in April 1932, Discoveryand its oceanographers, including George Deacon, circumnavigated Antarctica, much of the first few months at sea the Antarctic winter, completing the long series of sections in April 1933 before returning to England. Eratosthenes created a whole section devoted to the examination of Homer, and acquired original works of great tragic dramas of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. (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 made a catalog of 675 stars. Who is father of geography in India? [5] He adopted view of Aristotle & regarded the shape of the earth as sphere. Shcheglov, D.A. Updates? He created a longitude and latitude system, as well as a map of the world. 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. It is a large, submerged massif, about 120 km long and 80 km wide. Hipparchus (c. 190120 bce) was the first to construct a table of values for a trigonometric function. JR, on the other, Either is a correct plural for the word leaf, according to Merriam-Websters online dictionary. The first discussed the problems of representing a spherical earth on a flat sheet . Eratosthenes made major contributions to geography. The exact length of the units (stadia) he used is doubtful, and the accuracy of his result is therefore uncertain. The son of Aglaos, Eratosthenes was born in 276 BC in Cyrene. Eratosthenes made major contributions to geography. At that time he also wrote Peri agathn kai kakn, a text that was lost. And afterwards, Uranio Zeus, may the scepter of your hand guide it. Boldly, they also sailed across the open ocean to settle Iceland and Greenland, even landing in North Americabecoming the first Europeans to do so. He also dedicated to Eratosthenes The method. establishing a center of the study of marine science and navigation on Portugal What did Eratosthenes of Cyrene contribute to marine science and why is it important? Geography consisted of eight volumes. He is known as the Father of Mathematics. In the first, Eratosthenes addressed the previous theories and compiled the existing information in the library. 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. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Now part of modern-day Libya, Cyrene had been founded by Greeks centuries earlier and became the capital of Pentapolis (North Africa), a country of five cities: Cyrene, Arsinoe, Berenice, Ptolemias, and Apollonia. The book written by him describes the ekumene (inhabited) world. The Greeks made tremendous advancements in the fields of geomorphology, climatology and oceanography. 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. Eratosthenes was a famous mathematician who developed latitude and longitude as a way to measure the Earth. That is why he thought that he would arrive in Asia on his journey and did not realize that a new continent had arrived. History of Oceanography TIMELINE PDF Image Zoom Out. He worked in geography to try to figure out why the Nile river had such a regular flood pattern, and hypothesized that it was because of heavy rain upstream. Eratosthenes (D.W.) Roller (ed., Trans.) He had become blind in his old age and could no longer work by 195 BCE. However, it was in geography where he proved to be more skillful for he was one of the greatest of all ancient geographers. Among the archives that were at the disposal of Eratosthenes, the distance between Siena and Alexandria was stated to be 5000 stadia. Uf Women's Studies Electives, The role of p ychologi t in relation to mental health and well-being i extremely important today, and it i not urpri ing that many people have the need to go to p ychotherapy e ion or require p ycholo Few mu ician have o marked the future of modern mu ic a Michael Jack on, con idered the King of Pop. In Athens he met so many philosophers that he was both amazed and overwhelmed. As a young man, Eratosthenes studied in Athens. Zihuatanejo Beach Shawshank, 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. The measurement of the Sun-Earth distance, now called the astronomical unit (804,000,000 stadia, 1 stadion varies from 157 to 209 meter). 4. Scientific Oceanography James Cook - 1768- HMS Endeavor very talented navigator, cartographer, writer, artist diplomat, sailor, scientist, dietition Scientific Contributions: 1. It is believed that it was Eratosthenes' fame as a poet that attracted the attention of Ptolemy III Evergetes, who called him to Alexandria to tutor his son, as well as offering him a position as director of the city library. He developed systems of latitudes and longitudes and ascertained accurate length of equator using Gnomon. [2] Eratosthenes described his arc measurement technique,[14] in a book entitled .mw-parser-output .vanchor>:target~.vanchor-text{background-color:#b1d2ff}On the measure of the Earth, which has not been preserved. The word geography comes from a Middle French word that was first used in 1540. Posidonius wrote a bookThe Ocean. For other uses, see. He calculated the size of the Earth using geometry and ratios based on sun observations. This method consisted of creating a table with natural numbers between 2 and the desired quantity. One of the Greeks primary contributions to oceanography and seafaring is the latitude/longitude system. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved 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]. Ptolemy was an astronomer and mathematician. While this work is the earliest we can trace certain ideas, words, and concepts in the historical record, earlier contributions may have been lost to history. It is used in oceanography in calculating the height of tides in oceans. What happened to most of the information accumulated there? What superannuation contributions are reportable? He was nicknamed Beta because he was great at many things and tried to get his hands on every bit of information but never achieved the highest rank in anything; Strabo accounts Eratosthenes as a mathematician among geographers and a geographer among mathematicians. 1. Eratosthenes created a whole section devoted to the examination of Homer, and acquired original works of great tragic dramas of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. He became famous for being the first to calculate, with considerable precision, the circumference of the earth. In this book Eratosthenes denounced. . Archives. However, he assumed that Siena was right over the Tropic of Cancer, a fact that was incorrect. Definition. Modern Geographys founder, Alexander von Humboldt. Eratosthenes died in Alexandria, approximately in 194 BC, when he was 82 years old. Some time ago he had gone blind from cataracts and is believed to have committed suicide by starvation. It does so by iteratively marking as composite, i.e., not prime, the multiples of each prime, starting with the multiples of 2. 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). [9], The measurement of Earth's circumference is the most famous among the results obtained by Eratosthenes,[13] who estimated that the meridian has a length of 252,000 stadia (39,060 to 40,320 kilometres (24,270 to 25,050mi)), with an error on the real value between 2.4% and +0.8% (assuming a value for the stadion between 155 and 160 metres (509 and 525ft)). Eratosthenes was a Greek mathematician with a strong interest in geography. The fourth is the prominent grammarian Aristophanes of Byzantium, who succeeded Eratosthenes as head of the Library of Alexandria. 285-205 BC) invented the discipline of geography as we understand it. They believed only rivers had currents, and named this mass of water okeanos (meaning river), from which we derived our term . Omissions? During his time at the Library of Alexandria, Eratosthenes devised a calendar using his predictions about the, He was also very proud of his solution for. ", Zhumud, Leonid. He worked in geography to try to figure out why the Nile river had such a regular flood pattern, and hypothesized that it was because of heavy rain upstream. [23] Strabo says that Eratosthenes was wrong to claim that Alexander had disregarded the counsel of his advisers. Strabo argues it was Alexander's interpretation of their "real intent" in recognizing that "in some people there prevail the law-abiding and the political instinct, and the qualities associated with education and powers of speech".