He also claimed that the rivers source was lakes. 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. Unfortunately, there are no documents left of his work after the destruction of the Library of Alexandria. [25], This article is about the Greek scholar of the third century BC. 2. Oceanography Flashcards Eratosthenes measured Earths circumference mathematically using two surface points to make the calculation. Eratosthenes - Mathematician Biography, Contributions and Facts Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. He invented a system of latitude and longitude and he also might have calculated the distance from earth to the sun and invented the leap day. Eratosthenes's main interest in youth was philosophy and that vocation led him to Athens at the age of 15. Book Collection Nonfiction: High School Edition. What makes the scientific discipline of geography different from other science disciplines is its emphasis on space, place, and connection. Contribution of Greeks to Mathematical and Physical Geography! He did this by observing the Moon during a lunar eclipse and by estimating the angle and the size of the Earth. [2][3] He was also the first to calculate Earth's axial tilt, which has also proved to have remarkable accuracy. The first spot has to go to the man who coined the term geography, Eratosthenes (c.275-194 BC). III. Eratosthenes Of Cyrene 13. G. Argoud, J.Y. Technology such as electronics and space travel have provided important contributions to oceanography. The first number following two that is not crossed off will be . He became famous for being the first to calculate, with considerable precision, the circumference of the earth. ISBN: 978-0-691-14267-8. The circumference of the Earth was measured by Eratosthenes. He was appointed as the Librarian of the Library of Alexandria-the post of highest academic honour of that period. Isaac, Benjamin. He divided the earth into 5 climatic zones: the frozen poles, under them two temperate zones and in the center a tropical belt that bordered the equator. 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. Thus began the fame of Eratosthenes, since in his new field he achieved the recognition he had desired. Who Eratosthenes was and what his contribution to math is? Eratosthenes was an ancient Greek astronomer, geographer, and mathematician. He developed Read more. 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. This, so it happens, and when seeing the offering, someone says: this is the work of the Cyrenean Eratosthenes. [24], Eratosthenes was described by the Suda Lexicon as a (Pentathlos) which can be translated as "All-Rounder", for he was skilled in a variety of things: He was a true polymath. 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 afflicted by blindness in his old age, and he is said to have committed suicide by voluntary starvation. Eratosthenes is most famous for making the first accurate measurement of the circumference of the Earth. A geographer is a physical scientist, social scientist, or humanist whose field of study is geography. Eratosthenes followed in the footsteps of other academics in his city and trained with Lysanias, an expert in grammar. He is credited with devising an algorithm for finding prime numbers called the sieve of Eratosthenes, in which one arranges the natural numbers in numerical order and strikes out one, every second number following two, every third number following three, and so on, which just leaves the prime numbers. The fourth is the prominent grammarian Aristophanes of Byzantium, who succeeded Eratosthenes as head of the Library of Alexandria. Eratosthenes now continued from his knowledge about the Earth. 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". In the quest to secure his newly regained domain, Ptolemy III saw fit to satisfy the people of Cyrene by offering a position as important as that of chief keeper of the great library of Alexandria to Eratosthenes. . Eratosthenes is most famous for making the first good measurement of the size of Earth. Read about the life of Eratosthenes. He believed that the celestial bodies revolved around the Earth. The actual circumference of the Earth is 24,874 miles (40,032 kilometers). Although Eratosthenes method was well founded, the accuracy of his calculation was inherently limited. The prime meridian plotted by Ptolemy was used by the Arabs for the calculation of time and longitudes. In the text, he described the inhabited earth and the people who lived there. 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. He was the first to affirm that the heavy rains in the headwaters could explain the floods in the lower part of the flow. About 150 years later, Eratosthenes (264-194 B.C.) 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 locate all prime numbers between two integers. At the Library of Alexandria, he was the chief librarian where he read books on a variety of disciplines that expanded his knowledge extensively. Atlantic Ocean Ocean exploration is a part of oceanography describing the exploration of ocean surfaces. In addition, he calculated approximate distances between them. Given an estimate of the distance between the two cities, he was able to calculate the circumference of Earth, obtaining 250,000 stadia. Eratosthenes made major contributions to geography. However, it was in geography where he proved to be more skillful for he was one of the greatest of all ancient geographers. There it remained, approximately, for 25 years. Why is Eratosthenes called the father of geography? Posidonius wrote a bookThe Ocean. How Do You Get Rid Of Hiccups In 5 Seconds. 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. [6] Eratosthenes was a man of many perspectives and investigated the art of poetry under Callimachus. 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. : 3373 , 02-3298322 A . This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 18:23. Eratosthenes died in his 80s in Alexandria, Egypt. Eratosthenes. The course consists of an extensive examination of physical and cultural factors that contribute to and produce the variable character of the earth's surface and a discussion of the significance of . Six Famous Geographers - Geography Realm The authors' texts have always been recognized for their readability, currency, dynamic art program, delivery of basic principles and instructor flexibility. He lived in Athens until Ptolemy Evergetes, the king of Egypt . [4] He created the first global projection of the world, incorporating parallels and meridians based on the available geographic knowledge of his era. Eratosthenes proposed a simple algorithm for finding prime numbers. Vol. In the Geography the names of over 400 cities and their locations were shown, which had never been achieved before. Each fragment is accompanied by an English translation, a summary, and commentary. PDF 52. Eratosthenes Seamount: an Oceanographic Yardstick Recording the Late After study in Alexandria and Athens, Eratosthenes settled in Alexandria about 255 bce and became director of the great library there. He also dedicated to Eratosthenes The method. #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. 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? Eratosthenes united and organized in this work different information that he found in the Library of Alexandria. In On the Circular Motions of the Celestial Bodies,[11] Cleomedes credited him with having calculated the Earth's circumference around 240 BC, with a high precision. They believed only rivers had currents, and named this mass of water okeanos (meaning river), from which we derived our term . The correct answer is to determine the Earths circumference. Bacon is a piece of salt-cured pork cut from the belly of a pig. Ben-Avraham et al. He was also of the opinion that the spread of the world from west to east is more than from north to south. Eratosthenes - New World Encyclopedia He visited Egypt and numerous places in South-West Asia, Greece, and the island in the Mediterranean Sea. March 2023; Here Eratosthenes described his famous story of the well in Syene, wherein at noon each summer solstice, the Sun's rays shone straight down into the city-center well. Eratosthenes noted that at Alexandria, at the same date and time, sunlight fell at an angle of about 7.2 from the vertical. Eratosthenes was also the first to calculate the tilt of the Earths axis, which he figured with remarkable accuracy; the finding was reported by Ptolemy (85-165 CE). What were Eratosthenes contributions to geography? The children were trained from the age of seven in subjects such as literature, sports and music. Although these tables have not survived, it is claimed that twelve books of tables of chords were written by Hipparchus. This method consisted of creating a table with natural numbers between 2 and the desired quantity. Cyrene was absorbed into the Ptolemaic monarchy of Egypt, which ruled from Alexandria, the cultural and commercial center of the Mediterranean. They had a keen sense of ocean currents and variations in bird and sea life in different places in the Pacific. Eratosthenes' Contribution in Mathematics - StudiousGuy All of the planets, except for Earth, were named after Greek and Roman gods and godesses. Another of his great contributions to geography was the study and map that he made of the route of the Nile River from Khartoum, in which he included the Ethiopian tributaries. 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. It allows scientists to pinpoint specific locations using a system of degrees. Oceanography - National Geographic Society Eratosthenes (D.W.) Roller (ed., Trans.) He has written works on geography, philosophy, history, astronomy, mathematics, and literary criticism. He published a book that he called GeographikaIt was there that he first coined the term geography. The measurement of the Sun-Earth distance, now called the astronomical unit (804,000,000 stadia, 1 stadion varies from 157 to 209 meter). in, Chondros, Thomas G. Archimedes Life Works and Machines. Archimedes is regarded as one of the most notable Greek mathematicians. However, a simplified version of the method has been preserved, as described by Cleomedes.[15]. He used as a basis the ecliptic movement, that is, the movement of the sun observed by the apparent changes of the same from the earth. This is the sieve's key distinction from using trial division to sequentially test each candidate number for divisibility by each prime. [6] He wrote Chronographies, a text that scientifically depicted dates of importance, beginning with the Trojan War. Arsinoe (a biography of Queen Arsinoe, wife and sister of Ptolemy IV). Some people believe that Eratosthenes starved himself to death on purpose after going blind. The second book contains his calculation of the circumference of the Earth. "Eratosthenes." Contributions of Arab Geographers - Exclusive Notes on Geography Eratosthenes was born in approximately 276 BC. Eratosthenes | Biography, Discoveries, Sieve, & Facts Trigonometry in the modern sense began with the Greeks. Geography consisted of eight volumes. However, his contributions to the study of the earth gave him the title of father of geography. Earth was considered as the centre of the universe, around which revolved the seven planets. What superannuation contributions are reportable? Eratosthenes was called The Father Of Geography, since he was very knowledgeable about the earth. Eratosthenes - World History Encyclopedia oceanography chapter 1 Flashcards | Quizlet *Egyptians utilized the Nile River and created a commerce based on ship-based trade (4000 BC). History of Oceanography TIMELINE PDF Image Zoom Out. The first book of "Geography" contained a summary of existing geographical work and Eratosthenes' speculations about the nature of the planet Earth. He also suggested that lakes were the source of the river. 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. Hipparchus divided the Earth's surface into 360 degrees. 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. He also suggested that lakes were the source of the river. Bailey, Ellen. Ptolemy is known for his three scholarly works: the Almagest which focused on astronomy and geometry, the Tetrabiblos which focused on astrology, and, most importantly, Geography which advanced geographic knowledge. In the Library of Alexandria he had access to various travel books, which contained various items of information and representations of the world that needed to be pieced together in some organized format. Eratosthenes was born in the Greek colony Cyrene, now the city of Shahhat, Libya. These six geographers are noteworthy for their contribution to the science of geography. Oceanic area = 303x10^6km^2 (59.4%) 11.5% of Earth is continent below sea level. Notable explorations were undertaken by the Greeks, the Romans, the Polynesians, the Phoenicians, Phytheas, Herodotus, the Vikings, the Portuguese and Muslims. What Is The Contributions Of Eratosthenes? - On Secret Hunt Eratosthenes was an Ancient Greek scientist born in the town of Cyrene in about 276 BC. 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. He invented Syene (near today's Aswan) is located some 800 km up the Nile river from Alexandria very close to the tropic of Cancer (2327'N), so at the time of the summer solstice the Sun's rays fall vertically down on Syrene at noon. Several astronomers and mathematicians before and after Eratosthenes tried to accurately measure the circumference of the Earth, but is was Eratosthenes that came through. Which common nonsilicate mineral is used in wallboard. He did not use the mythological descriptions that were common at the time, but relied on military texts to carry out his work. Was nicknamed Beta by other Greeks of his time, in reference to the second letter of the alphabet. In German it is erde. The technology geographers and other scientists use to study the physical and cultural environments spatially and over time is with geospatial technology. A polymath who served as librarian at Alexandria and tutor to the future King Ptolemy IV, Eratosthenes created the terminology of . Also with one of his students, Aristn de Chios, of whom he wrote a biography. The first recorded use of the word geography was by Eratosthenes, a Greek scholar who lived from 276-194 BC who is credited with creating the discipline of geography (Eratosthenes' Geography. He made a catalog of 675 stars. At present it is known that the equatorial diameter is 40,075 kilometers. Alfred Hettner, who inherited the concept of chorology, further developed it. Oceanography ch2 questionWho is responsible for the first measurement of the circumference of the earth? PDF Oceanography Chapter 1 Oceanography - craftonhills.edu 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. Perspectives on the Contribution of Arabs and Muslims to Geography Finally he wrote: Happy father, Ptolemy, because with your son you enjoy the age! Geography is the study of Earths natural environment and human society, as well as how society and nature interact. Cnidus, 342337 BC), Greek mathematician and astronomer who significantly advanced proportion theory, contributed to the identification of constellations in the Greek world and thus the development of observational astronomy, and created the first sophisticated, geometrical model of celestial motion.