Geography presentation goes Greek

From the Daily Eastern News:  Geography presentation goes Greek


An associate professor of geography will shed light on the legacy of ancient Greek geographers Thursday.
Michael Cornebise, an associate professor of geography and the chairman of the Eastern geology/geography department, will present “Ancient Greek Geography and Geographers” in room 2120 of the Physical Science Building at 2:30 p.m.

The lecture is part of “A Futuristic Look Through Ancient Lenses: A Symposium on Ancient Greece.”
Cornebise said he was so impressed after watching several presentations during the Symposium on Ancient Egypt last year that he wanted to participate this year.

He said his lecture will explore how the ancient Greeks’ ideas influence current scientific practices.

Many concepts used in modern applications of geography are attributed to ancient Greek geographers such as Hecataeus of Miletus, Eratosthenes, Theophilus, Strabo and Ptolemy, he said.

“As geographers, we trace our roots to the ancient Greeks,” he said.

Cornebise said he would use many visual aids to engage the audience in history.

Some images will be of ancient maps showing the significance of cartography, which is the art and science of map making.

“We owe a lot to how they constructed their maps,” he said.

He said it is important for those studying geography to examine historic records in order to trace the origins of their ideas.

“One of the threads that runs through the whole spectrum is how we relate practices to modern life,” he said. “The connection (with Greece) is a lot clearer than other ancient societies.”

Beth Heldebrandt, the editorial writer for library services, said the symposium has expanded to offer more programs than the previous one on Ancient Egypt because of positive responses from students.

She also said more than 100 people were present for the opening ceremony in Booth Library, and the first two lectures of the series have been successful.