Famous Geographers
Eratosthenes was the first great geographer. He was also a Greek mathematician. Eratosthenes summarized the Greek's understandgin of the world in a book titled "Geography."He was the first person to use the word geography.
Hipparchus was also another Greek philosopher. Hipparchus drew a grid which is a pattern of intersecting lines. This grid made it easier to locates things on maps.
Ptolemy was a famous Roman geographer. He believed in a geocentric theory. This theory stated that planets. sun and stars all revolved around the earth. This theory was believed for about fourteen centuries.
Nicolaus Copernicus argued against Ptolemy's theory. He argued a heliocentric theory. This theory stated that the universe was centered around the sun instead of the earth.
Gerhardus Mercator was from Flanders and published a map that became the standard of his day. His sytem of map making is still used today.