Strabo

Strabon Rerum geographicarum 1620

Nuremberg chronicles f 094r 1

Statue of Strabo in Amasia

C+B-Geography-Map1-StrabosMap

Map of Europe according to Strabo

Strabo (c. 64 BC – c. AD 24) was a Greek geographer, philosopher, and historian who lived in Asia Minor during the transitional period of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. Strabo is most famous for his 17-volume work Geographica, which presented a descriptive history of people and places from different regions of the world known to his era.

Life

Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in the Pontus region, which is now part of modern-day Turkey. Little is known about his early life, but it is clear that he received a comprehensive education that included philosophy, ethics, politics, and history, reflecting the Hellenistic culture of the time. Strabo studied under various scholars in different cities, including Rome and Alexandria, which were the major centers of learning during his lifetime.

Work

Geographica is Strabo's most significant contribution to geography and history. In this work, he described the known world, covering Europe, Africa, and Asia, based on his extensive travels and the works of previous authors. Strabo's Geographica is not just a collection of geographical knowledge but also an attempt to provide a critical analysis of the data available in his time. He emphasized the importance of a comprehensive education for a geographer and the need to combine direct observation with critical examination of sources.

Strabo's methodology in Geographica combines scientific rigor with a literary style, making his work accessible to a broader audience. He often compared the merits of different sources, showing a critical approach to information that was not common among historians and geographers of his time.

Legacy

Strabo's work had a significant influence on both contemporary and later scholars. Although Geographica was not widely known in the Middle Ages, it was rediscovered during the Renaissance and became an essential reference for geographers and historians. Strabo's emphasis on empirical evidence and critical analysis of sources has been seen as ahead of his time.

Conclusion

Strabo's contributions to geography and history are invaluable. His work provides insight into the ancient world's geography, cultures, and societies. Geographica remains a critical source for understanding the ancient Mediterranean world and its surroundings.