Strabo

Geography

This work is a monumental geographical and historical treatise in seventeen books, in which the ancient Greek scholar Strabo comprehensively describes the known world (the ecumene). In the introductory Books 1 and 2, he establishes Homer as the founder of geography, critically evaluates the theories of predecessors such as Eratosthenes and Poseidonius, and explains the necessity of mathematical, astronomical, and geophysical knowledge. The regional descriptions begin in Books 3 to 10 with Europe, moving from the westernmost Iberian Peninsula and Gaul to Italy and Greece, detailing their natural environments, peoples, and histories. The narrative then shifts to Asia in Books 11 to 16, covering regions from India and Persia to Mesopotamia and Asia Minor, before concluding in Book 17 with North Africa, including Egypt and Libya. Interweaving mythical traditions with historical facts, Strabo presents a unified view of the world, emphasizing the practical utility of geographical knowledge under the administration of the Roman Empire.