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Ptolemy's Geography: An Annotated Translation of the Theoretical Chapters Paperback – January 15, 2002

by Ptolemy Ptolemy (Author), J. Lennart Berggren Alexander Jones

4.0 11 ratings

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Ptolemy's Geography is the only book on cartography to have survived from the classical period and one of the most influential scientific works of all time. Written in the second century AD, for more than fifteen centuries it was the most detailed topography of Europe and Asia available and the best reference on how to gather data and draw maps. Ptolemy championed the use of astronomical observation and applied mathematics in determining geographical locations. But more importantly, he introduced the practice of writing down coordinates of latitude and longitude for every feature drawn on a world map, so that someone else possessing only the text of the Geography could reproduce Ptolemy's map at any time, in whole or in part, at any scale.

Here Berggren and Jones render an exemplary translation of the Geography and provide a thorough introduction, which treats the historical and technical background of Ptolemy's work, the contents of the Geography, and the later history of the work.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A superlative new translation. . . . In Berggren and Jones [Ptolemy] has, at long last, found his ideal exponents."---Peter Green, London Review of Books

"Arguably, [Ptolemy's Geography] has been the most lastingly influential of all works in the earth sciences. . . . This is a most useful volume, destined to be a primary source for classical scholars as well as for historians of science."---William A.S. Sarjeant, Earth Sciences History

"By allowing us to hear in English the voice of one who was both the chief cartographer of the Greek world and the inspiration for the fifteenth-century cartographic revolution, Berggren and Jones have masterfully met a long-felt need."---Robert W. Karrow, Jr., Technology and Culture

"Until now there has been no reliable translation of the Geography in English. Berggren and Jones have triumphantly filled that lack for the crucial portion of the work, the portion in which Ptolemy speaks as scientific geographer."---Lionel Casson, Classical Bulletin

Review

"The translation is exemplary, surely the best in any language. It supersedes all previous translations and corrects all editions. The authors have done a splendid job in every way and have produced a work that will be useful for the duration of our lives and probably much longer."―Noel Swerdlow, University of Chicago and author of The Babylonian Theory of the Planets

"Berggren and Jones have made a difficult, detailed and challenging text far more accessible and have produced a work that will be the standard for many years to come. They have done a wonderful service to the study of a crucial text by one of the most important figures in the history of science. A pleasure to read."―Liba Taub, Cambridge University

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Princeton University Press; New Ed edition (January 15, 2002)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 216 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0691092591
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0691092591
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.5 x 10 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,800,015 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,216 in Astronomy (Books)
- #6,301 in History & Philosophy of Science (Books)

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4.0 11 ratings

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Alexander Jones
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Stefano Nikolaou

The Pinacle of Ancient Geography

Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2017

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I should point out that this book was originally written in Greek in the 2nd century. Not much is known about Ptolemy other than he was an Alexandrian Greek who wrote on astronomy, astrology, optics, geography and music.

It is the pinacle of ancient geographic theory. Ptolemy knew the Mediterranean Basin quite well as it encompassed the Roman Empire. Ptolemy lists provinces, tribes, cities, island, rivers and other important features of his world. All this is fairly well documented as a number of geographic treatise survive (but none as extensive as Ptolemy's).

The theoretical part discusses the faults of Ptolemy's predecessors, the division of the world into climatic zones and the use of latitudes/longitudes as a method of finding locations.

The most interesting aspect of this book is discovering the limits of ancient knowledge. Ptolemy knows a fair bit about Arabia, India and Sri Lanka but little beyond that. He knows about China but only vaguely. Ptolemy knows little of Africa south of the Sahara. The horn of Africa is the best known due to Red Sea trade.

FYI - There is a fuller translation of Ptolemy that includes reproduction of his maps.

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Bill Rudolph

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2016

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If you do not read Latin, this book is for you.

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Sidh