Geography, Volume I: Books 1–2

by Strabo, Horace Leonard Jones (Translator)

Strabo (ca. 64 BCE to ca. 25 CE), an Asiatic Greek of Amasia in Pontus, studied at Nysa and after 44 BCE at Rome. He became a keen traveller who saw a large part of Italy, various near eastern regions including the Black Sea, various parts of Asia Minor, Egypt as far as Ethiopia, and parts of Greece. He was a long time in Alexandria where he no doubt studied mathematics, astronomy, and history.

Strabo's historical work is lost, but his most important "Geography" in seventeen books has survived. After two introductory books, numbers 3 and 4 deal with Spain and Gaul, 5 and 6 with Italy and Sicily, 7 with north and east Europe, 8-10 with Greek lands, 11-14 with the main regions of Asia and with Asia Minor, 15 with India and Iran, 16 with Assyria, Babylonia, Syria, and Arabia, 17 with Egypt and Africa. In outline he follows the great mathematical geographer Eratosthenes, but adds general descriptions of separate countries including physical, political, and historical details. A sequel to his historical memoirs, "Geography" is planned apparently for public servants rather than students--hence the accounts of physical features and of natural products. On the mathematical side it is an invaluable source of information about Eratosthenes, Hipparchus, and Posidonius.

The Loeb Classical Library edition of Strabo is in eight volumes.

Genres: History, Classics, Geography, Ancient History, Nonfiction, Science

576 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 8

About the author

born perhaps 63 BC
died perhaps 24

Geography , great work, the only extant text of Strabo, Greek historian, describes the known peoples during the reign of Augustus to the Romans.

* Στράβων

Strabo, a philosopher, lived in Asia Minor during the transitional period of the republic into the Roman Empire.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strabo

Reviews

[S. Alberto ⁻⁷ (semi-hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"In geography, it is not only the knowledge of places that matters, but also the understanding of how they interact and influence one another."

"In the study of geography, we must not only examine the boundaries of regions, but also the nature of their people and customs."

This is an invaluable resource for those studying ancient history or geography, offering a detailed and systematic exploration of the known world in the first century BCE. As someone deeply immersed in the classics, I found the book to be essential for understanding how the ancient Greeks conceptualized geography and the world around them.

Strabo's writing is dense, filled with detailed descriptions of various regions, cultures, and climates. The sheer breadth of information makes this book indispensable for historical and geographical analysis. For anyone studying ancient civilizations or how geography influenced the development of ancient societies, it offers rich insights.

However, while it is undoubtedly informative, I found it hard to engage with on a casual level. This is not a book meant for leisurely reading—it’s a dense academic text, and much of the content will only appeal to those with a particular interest in the ancient world or geography. Without that specific focus, the text can feel slow and repetitive, lacking the narrative drive or character development that make other ancient works more accessible and enjoyable.

Overall, I would recommend Geography, I: Books 1-2 to those studying ancient history or geography, as it provides a foundational understanding of the ancient world. But for anyone looking for a more engaging or enjoyable read, this may not be the best choice!

[James Violand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strabo was the geographer of the Ancient World. He not only traveled, but he relied on the recorded geographies of other writers to fill the gaps in his knowledge (which was pretty extensive). It is interesting to read of those places we are familiar with but as they were two thousand years ago. Not for those who aren't interested in the ancient world.

[GezginHerodot · Rating 5 out of 5]

İlk coğrafyacılardan olan Strabon, Antik Çağ coğrafyasını ele alırken kendinden önce gözlem yoluyla coğrafya disiplinine katkı yapmış düşüncelere de eserinde yer vermektedir.

[Vicki Cline · Rating 2 out of 5]

This volume of Strabo is mostly about how previous writers got geography all wrong. He spends a good bit of time on Eratosthenes, Hipparchus, Posidonius and Polybius, pointing out their errors and how they contradicted each other. It's only in the last chapter of Book 2 that he starts detailing his view of the Earth.

[Daniel Bennett · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is only for the specialist in ancient history. Common readers beware.