Eratosthenes (born c. 276 BCE, Cyrene, Libya) was a Greek scientific writer, astronomer, and poet who made the first measurements of Earths size for which any details are known. What happened to most of the information accumulated there? Geography is the study of Earths natural environment and human society, as well as how society and nature interact. Eratosthenes was called Beta (the second letter of the Greek alphabet) because he was never first, but he is more famous than his Alpha teachers because his discoveries are still used today. (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. Was In God We Trust Always In The Constitution? He also dedicated to Eratosthenes The method. 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. In Athens he met so many philosophers that he was both amazed and overwhelmed. Calculated the Earth's circumference: 40,000 km (24,840 mi) More precise, modern measurement: 40,032 km (24,860 mi) Eratosthenes' most famous contribution to science was his calculation of the circumference of the Earth, which he completed while working on the second volume of his "Geography.". Plutarch's similar discussion claiming that Alexander ignored. Oceanography 100 Karen Baker Quiz #2. Who is responsible for the first measurement of the circumference of the Earth? Greek Scholar's Work Shows Usefulness of Measurement. Phoenicians (from what is now Syria and Lebanon) navigated and traded around Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and Africa; 2000BC 2. Corrections? Christopher Columbus was one of those who studied the work of Eratosthenes. Term. Location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, and geography are the five themes of geography. He had inclination toward arts as well as music and poetry composition. 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 a man of learning, becoming the chief librarian at the Library of Alexandria. The first number following two that is not crossed off will be . It was now possible to estimate one's distance from remote locations with this network over the surface of the Earth. 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. Eratosthenes was the founder of scientific chronology;[5] he used Egyptian and Persian records to estimate the dates of the main events of the mythical Trojan War, dating the sack of Troy to 1183 BC. One of Eratosthenes contributions to mathematics was his measurement of the Earth. % complete . Between 276 and 195 BC, he created one of the first known maps of the world, but his most significant contribution was the concept of latitude and longitude. Geographers look at both the physical properties of the Earths surface and the human societies that live on it. It allows scientists to pinpoint specific locations using a system of degrees. This work was highly esteemed for its accuracy. The Greeks made tremendous advancements in the fields of geomorphology, climatology and oceanography. Chambers, James T. "Eratosthenes of Cyrene." He developed systems of latitudes and longitudes and ascertained accurate length of equator using Gnomon. Eratosthenes was an ancient Greek astronomer, geographer, and mathematician. Definition of Oceanography 1. Notable explorations were undertaken by the Greeks, the Romans, the Polynesians, the Phoenicians, Phytheas, Herodotus, the Vikings, the Portuguese and Muslims. He was a man of learning, becoming the chief librarian at the Library of Alexandria. He could then use simple proportions to find the Earths circumference 7.2 degrees is 1/50 of 360 degrees, so 800 times 50 equals 40,000 kilometers. Vol. Yet, according to an entry[7] in the Suda (a 10th-century encyclopedia), some critics scorned him, calling him Beta (the second letter of the Greek alphabet) because he always came in second in all his endeavours. He also calculated the tilt axis of the Earth. 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? At present it is known that the equatorial diameter is 40,075 kilometers. He was the chief librarian of the Great Library of Alexandria. All Categories. He studied in Athens at the Lyceum. He died c. 194 BCE, Alexandria, Egypt. Technology such as electronics and space travel have provided important contributions to oceanography. A geographer is a physical scientist, social scientist, or humanist whose field of study is geography. 4. Eratosthenes used longitude in his maps, though the lines were placed irregularly so that they could pass through important landmarks. Hutchinson's Biography Database 1. He calculated the Earth's circumference. Later, the Greeks speculated on the idea that the earth was round. He acquired works such as the great dramas of Aeschylus and Euripides. 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. [1] Cyrene became a place of cultivation, where knowledge blossomed. Ptolemy III was not moved only by his interest in the work of Eratosthenes, but also by political motives. Other things that Eratosthenes thought but did not turn out to be: the fact that the earth is a perfect sphere, that Alexandria is exactly north of Siena, and that the sun's rays are perfectly parallel. Fragments Collected and Translated, with Commentary and Additional Material. Eratosthenes' other contributions include: The Sieve of Eratosthenes as a way of finding prime numbers. It is not known when he wrote his works, but they highlighted his abilities. Ptolemy made contributions to astronomy, mathematics, geography, musical theory, and optics. Eratosthenes, then thirty years old, accepted Ptolemy's invitation and traveled to Alexandria, where he lived for the rest of his life. Known For: Eratosthenes was a Greek polymath who became known as the father of geography. He noted that the Suns rays fell vertically at noon in Syene (now Aswn), Egypt, at the summer solstice. Due to the increased risk of food poisoning, eating this popular, Petra was ecstatic over Jane and Rafaels happy ending during the series finale, fearing that she would never find love again. 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. 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 died in Alexandria, approximately in 194 BC, when he was 82 years old. He has written works on geography, philosophy, history, astronomy, mathematics, and literary criticism. Eckerman, C. (2011). What Is Fast Acquisition Corp. . Earth Science Oceanography: An Invitation To Marine Science, Loose-leaf Versin How did the Library of Alexandria contribute to the development of marine science? Atlantic Ocean- long, narrow, parrallel sides 68% of freshwater runs into it. 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. Humboldt and Kant. in. Hipparchus (c. 190120 bce) was the first to construct a table of values for a trigonometric function. 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. % complete So he trained and became famous as an academic. 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. He sketched, quite accurately, the route of the Nile to Khartoum, showing the two Ethiopian tributaries. The second book contains his calculation of the circumference of the Earth. George Syncellus was later able to preserve from Chronographies a list of 38 kings of the Egyptian Thebes. Eratosthenes also calculated the Sun's diameter. b. Eratosthenes He was a Greek mathematician who had a profound interest in geography. After these experiences, he became disenchanted with philosophy and decided to dedicate himself to poetry. in, Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 18:23, Eratosthenes' map of the (for the Greeks) known world, "Aratus's "Phenomena," Cleomedes's "On the Circular Motions of the Celestial Bodies," and Nichomachus's "Introduction to Arithmetic" Viewer World Digital Library", "Eratosthenes on the "measurement" of the Earth", "The origin and value of the stadion unit used by Eratosthenes in the third century B.C", "Eratosthenes's large Earth and tiny universe", "Eratosthenes' Parallel of Rhodes and the History of the System of Climata", English translation of the primary source for Eratosthenes and the size of the Earth, About Eratosthenes' methods, including a Java applet, How the Greeks estimated the distances to the Moon and Sun, Measuring the Earth with Eratosthenes' method, List of ancient Greek mathematicians and contemporaries of Eratosthenes, New Advent Encyclopedia article on the Library of Alexandria, Eratosthenes' sieve in classic BASIC all-web based interactive programming environment, Open source Physics Computer Model about Eratosthenes estimation of radius and circumference of Earth, Eratosthenes, Katasterismoi (or Astrothesiae), original text, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eratosthenes&oldid=1141770053, The first book was something of an introduction and gave a review of his predecessors, recognizing their contributions that he compiled in the library. Eratosthenes. He lived and worked for most of his life in the city of Alexandria in Egypt. 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. Modern Geographys founder, Alexander von Humboldt. [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)). 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. He uses the angles of shadows and the distance between Alexandria and Syene to arrive at a value of 24,855 miles (40,000 kilometers). Eratosthenes was born around 276 B.C., which is now Shahhat, Libya. Eratosthenes was a lover of the theater and wrote a series of twelve books which he titled Old Comedy. Why do you suppose the residents of Alexandria became hostile to the librarians and the many achievements of the library? Are charitable contributions deductible in 2020? Using the precise data that Tycho had collected, Kepler discovered that the orbit of Mars was an ellipse. Eratosthenes. Some people believe that Eratosthenes starved himself to death on purpose after going blind. In addition to the attempts of Eratosthenes of Cyrene (c. 276c. Eratosthenes introduced latitude and longitude. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. He died in 194BC at 82 in Alexandria. 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). Eratosthenes was born in approximately 276 BC. 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. 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. They also were among the first people to use astronomical observations of the stars to help them navigate across the ocean. 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 . The estimate is over 99 percent of the actual distance of 40,008 km. Eratosthenes was a Greek mathematician, geographer, astronomer & poet. Among the ancient Greek scholars Herodotus, Plato, Aristotle, Eratosthenes is the chief ones. The geometry of the situation is sketched at the right. The prime meridian plotted by Ptolemy was used by the Arabs for the calculation of time and longitudes. II. The first place must go to Eratosthenes, the man who coined the term geography between 275 and 194 BC. He became famous for being the first to calculate, with considerable precision, the circumference of the earth. On oceanography he was considered an . 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. 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. are near the ocean) Life began in the ocean 4 billion years before present Stayed there for over 3 billion years before venturing out onto the surface Take notes about his accomplishments. What were the contributions of Eratosthenes, Hipparcus, and Ptolemy to oceanography? He was a follower of Aristotle in his belief about the spherical shape of the Earth which he considered to be placed in the centre of the universe. 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 measured Earths circumference mathematically using two surface points to make the calculation. Eratosthenes of Cyrene was a Greek polymath: a mathematician, geographer, poet, astronomer, and music theorist. He was born in 271 BC in Cyrene, which is now known as Libya, in North Africa. 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. Eratosthenes was a Greek mathematician, geographer, astronomer & poet. The technology geographers and other scientists use to study the physical and cultural environments spatially and over time is with geospatial technology. At that time he also wrote Peri agathn kai kakn, a text that was lost. But he did not find in them a style that appealed to him. in, Chondros, Thomas G. Archimedes Life Works and Machines. The pecialized text They are thoe that contain a vocabulary and terminology pecific to a certain branch of knowledge. 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. He created an algorithm to find prime numbers that is known as the Sieve of Eratosthenes. He was the first to affirm that the heavy rains in the headwaters could explain the floods in the lower part of the flow. What are the most common nonsilicate, Your floor (length x width) can be used to calculate your square footage. to find all prime numbers between any two integers. 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. Eratosthenes was born around 276 B.C., which is now Shahhat, Libya. 285-205 BC) invented the discipline of geography as we understand it. [2], Eratosthenes believed there was both good and bad in every nation and criticized Aristotle for arguing that humanity was divided into Greeks and barbarians, as well as for arguing that the Greeks should keep themselves racially pure. salinity, waves, tides and winds. Eratosthenes made calculations in which he discovered that in a year there were 365 days and every four years there were 366 days. 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. [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. The Fourteenth Edition incorporates 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 . [6], Eratosthenes made several important contributions to mathematics and science, and was a friend of Archimedes. This algorithm is known in mathematics as the Sieve of Eratosthenes. He also suggested that lakes were the source of the river. As head of the library Eratosthenes tutored the children of Ptolemy, including Ptolemy IV Philopator who became the fourth Ptolemaic pharaoh. He created a longitude and latitude system, as well as a map of the world. This is important to marine science because these concepts are used for locations around the globe.