What is the oldest known world map and when was it created?
The oldest known world map dates to the 9th century BC in ancient Babylon. This early artifact shows a circular landmass surrounded by a bitter river called Oceanus.
Questions about Geography
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who invented the gnomon and what did Anaximander achieve with it?
Anaximander invented the gnomon, an instrument that measured latitude with simple efficiency. Thales predicted eclipses using astronomical observations while Parmenides or Pythagoras first asserted that Earth has a spherical shape.
How accurate was Abu Rayhan Biruni's calculation of Earth's circumference?
Abu Rayhan Biruni calculated Earth's circumference with remarkable accuracy. His estimate of 6,339.9 km was only 16.8 km less than modern values.
When did geography become part of typical university curricula in Europe?
Geography became part of typical university curricula in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries. Alexander von Humboldt and Carl Ritter founded geography as an independent scientific discipline before this period.
What is Waldo Tobler's first law of geography and when was it proposed?
Waldo Tobler proposed the first law of geography in 1970. This law states that near things are more related than distant things.