Geographica

Geographica, commonly referred to as Strabo's Geographica, is an ancient Greek geographical encyclopedia attributed to the geographer and historian Strabo of Amasia. Compiled in the early Roman Empire, generally dated to the first century CE, it presents a wide-ranging survey of the known world, combining topography, ethnography, and historical commentary. The work is traditionally organized into 17 volumes and covers Europe, Asia, and Africa, outlining landscapes, settlements, routes, climate, and natural features, as well as the customs, languages, and political practices of various peoples.

Method and sources: Strabo draws on earlier authors such as Eratosthenes, Poseidonius, and many local informants, along with his own travels. He aims to synthesize available geographic knowledge, evaluate competing reports, and acknowledge uncertainties. The methodology reflects both empirical observation and the interpretive traditions of ancient geography, emphasizing qualitative descriptions and comparative accounts over precise cartographic measurements.

Structure and content: The Geographica progresses from general principles to regional descriptions. It discusses rivers, mountains, cities, hinterlands, and economic activities, interspersed with historical anecdotes and ethnographic notes. The work frequently situates geography within broader cultural and political contexts, illustrating how landscape and settlement patterns influence human affairs.

Manuscripts, reception, and legacy: The text survived in Greek manuscripts and through Latin and Arabic translations in the medieval and early modern periods. It influenced later geographic thought, contributing to Ptolemy’s Geographia and shaping Renaissance and early modern geographical writing. While some reports are ancillary or second-hand, Geographica remains a foundational source for ancient geography, offering valuable insight into how the classical world understood space and peoples.