Father of Geography is Eratosthenes an ancient Greek scholar who made remarkable contributions to the study of the Earth. He is best known for calculating the Earth circumference with surprising accuracy and creating one of the earliest maps of the known world. His work laid the foundation for modern geography helping people understand the planet size, shape and the relationships between different regions. 

Father of Geography in the World

The title of Father of Geography in the world belongs to Eratosthenes of Cyrene. He was a polymath, meaning he excelled in many different subjects, including mathematics, poetry and astronomy. He served as the chief librarian at the famous Library of Alexandria, which was a center of learning in the ancient world.

The term geography itself was coined by Eratosthenes. The word comes from two Greek words:

• Geo: meaning Earth.
• Graphos: meaning to write or describe.

About Eratosthenes

Eratosthenes was born in Cyrene, located in modern-day Libya. He received his education in Athens, one of the major learning centers of ancient Greece. His talent and knowledge eventually brought him to Egypt, where he was appointed as the Chief Librarian of the Library of Alexandria, one of the greatest libraries in ancient history.

Being the head of such a vast storehouse of knowledge gave him access to rare manuscripts, maps, scientific works, and astronomical records. This environment played an important role in shaping his geographical ideas.

Why Is Eratosthenes Called the Father of Geography?

Eratosthenes is known as the Father of Geography in the world because:

• He defined and formalized the subject of geography.
  
• He calculated Earth’s circumference with impressive accuracy.
  
• He developed the earliest system of latitude and longitude.
  
• He created a detailed world map with a scientific approach.
  
• He applied mathematics and astronomy to study the Earth—something no one had done before.

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Eratosthenes Major Contributions to Geography

Eratosthenes most famous accomplishment is his remarkably accurate calculation of the Earth’s circumference. He achieved this without leaving Egypt using simple observations and geometry.

His major contributions include:

1. Calculating the Earth Circumference: He used the angle of the sun shadow at two different locations on the summer solstice to estimate the size of the Earth. His result was surprisingly close to modern measurements.
2. Creating the First Map of the World with a Grid: He introduced the concepts of latitude and longitude. He drew a world map where places were marked according to a grid of intersecting lines a system still in use today.
3. Coined the Term Geography: As mentioned, he created the word that defines the subject.
4. Tilt of the Earth’s Axis: He calculated the tilt of the Earth axis also known as the obliquity of the ecliptic with great accuracy.

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