SCIENCE OF THE ROMAN PERIOD 



with both human and divine things, and these attain- 

 ments constitute what is called philosophy. In addi- 

 tion to its vast importance in regard to social life and 

 the art of government, geography unfolds to us a celes- 

 tial phenomena, acquaints us with the occupants of 

 the land and ocean, and the vegetation, fruits, and 

 peculiarities of the various quarters of the earth, a 

 knowledge of which marks him who cultivates it as 

 a man earnest in the great problem of life and hap- 

 piness." 



Strabo goes on to say that in common with other 

 critics, including Hipparchus, he regards Homer as the 

 first great geographer. He has much to say on the 

 geographical knowledge of the bard, but this need not 

 detain us. We are chiefly concerned with his comment 

 upon his more recent predecessors, beginning with 

 Eratosthenes. The constant reference to this worker 

 shows the important position which he held. Strabo 

 appears neither as detractor nor as partisan, but as one 

 who earnestly desires the truth. Sometimes he seems 

 captious in his criticisms regarding some detail, nor is 

 he always correct in his emendations of the labors of 

 others; but, on the whole, his work is marked by an 

 evident attempt at fairness. In reading his book, 

 however, one is forced to the conclusion that Strabo is 

 an investigator of details, not an original thinker. He 

 seems more concerned with precise measurements than 

 with questionings as to the open problems of his science. 

 Whatever he accepts, then, may be taken as virtually 

 the stock doctrine of the period. 



" As the size of the earth," he says, " has been demon- 

 strated by other writers, we shall here take for granted 



VOL, I. I? 257 



