History of Ancient Geography

Ancient geography refers to how early civilizations understood and depicted the world around them. In cultures like the Greeks and Romans, maps and writings described lands, peoples, and natural features. Figures like Ptolemy in the 2nd century CE created influential maps and systems to coordinate locations. Ancient geography combined exploration, trade routes, and military campaigns with cosmological beliefs. As cities grew and empires expanded, so did geographic knowledge, shaping navigation and cultural exchanges. This foundational understanding set the stage for modern geography by influencing later thinkers and geographical methodologies.