History of geography |History of geography| The history of
geography includes various histories of geography which have
differed over time and between different cultural and political
groups. In more recent developments, geography has become a
distinct academic discipline. 'Geography' derives from the from
Greek γεωγραφία - geographia, a literal translation of which
would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first
person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes (276-194
BC). However there is evidence for recognizable practices of
geography, such as cartography (or map-making) prior to the use
of the term geography. The oldest known world maps date back to
ancient Babylon from the 9th century BC. The best known
Babylonian world map, however, is the Imago Mundi of 600 BC. The
map as reconstructed by Eckhard Unger shows Babylon on the
Euphrates, surrounded by a circular landmass showing Assyria,
Urartu and several cities, in turn surrounded by a "bitter
river" (Oceanus), with seven islands arranged