History of Geography
Discover the fascinating history of the discipline of geography. Learn about the explorers and academics who created the maps and ideas that led us to where we are today.
Robert Cavelier de la Salle
A biography of the French explorer Robert Cavelier de la Salle who explored much of the region of the Louisiana Purchase and North America in the seventeenth century.
A biography of the French explorer Robert Cavelier de la Salle who explored much of the region of the Louisiana Purchase and North America in the seventeenth century.
Age of Exploration
An overview of the history of the Age of Exploration and its impact on the geography of the world, from the About.com Geography site.
An overview of the history of the Age of Exploration and its impact on the geography of the world, from the About.com Geography site.
Goodbye Dear Atlas
An essay reflecting on the changes in geography in the past decade by About.com Guide to Geography Matt Rosenberg.
An essay reflecting on the changes in geography in the past decade by About.com Guide to Geography Matt Rosenberg.
Ferdinand Magellan
A biography of the life of Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer who is credited with circumnavigating the earth.
A biography of the life of Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer who is credited with circumnavigating the earth.
Alexander von Humboldt
A short biographical overview of the life of the founder of modern geography, Alexander von Humboldt.
A short biographical overview of the life of the founder of modern geography, Alexander von Humboldt.
Amerigo Vespucci
Learn about the man for whom the American continents were named.
Learn about the man for whom the American continents were named.
Captain James Cook
Learn about the famous 18th Century explorer and his explorations.
Learn about the famous 18th Century explorer and his explorations.
Carl Ritter
A prolific 19th century geographer, one of the founders of modern geography.
A prolific 19th century geographer, one of the founders of modern geography.
Cheng Ho
The famous eunuch Chinese Admiral explorer Cheng Ho sailed the Indian Ocean with his Treasure Fleet in the 15th century, long before Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Learn about Cheng Ho from your About.com Guide to Geography.
The famous eunuch Chinese Admiral explorer Cheng Ho sailed the Indian Ocean with his Treasure Fleet in the 15th century, long before Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Learn about Cheng Ho from your About.com Guide to Geography.
Ellen Churchill Semple
Ellen Churchill Semple was America's first influential female geographer. Explore Semple's life and scholarship in this fantastic biographical article.
Ellen Churchill Semple was America's first influential female geographer. Explore Semple's life and scholarship in this fantastic biographical article.
Eratosthenes
Learn about Eratosthenes, the ancient Greek scholar and head librarian of the Great Library at Alexandria, known today as the father of geography.
Learn about Eratosthenes, the ancient Greek scholar and head librarian of the Great Library at Alexandria, known today as the father of geography.
Geography in the United States
Your About.com Guide to Geography provides an overview of the history of geography in the United States of America.
Your About.com Guide to Geography provides an overview of the history of geography in the United States of America.
Grand Tour of Europe
The Grand Tour of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries was designed to enlighten the young elite of England. Learn about their travels to the European mainland from your About.com Guide to Geography.
The Grand Tour of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries was designed to enlighten the young elite of England. Learn about their travels to the European mainland from your About.com Guide to Geography.
History of U.S. Expansion and Boundary Changes
Track the growth of the United States across North America through the variety of treaties, purchases, wars, and Acts of Congress that gave the U.S.A. the geography it has today.
Track the growth of the United States across North America through the variety of treaties, purchases, wars, and Acts of Congress that gave the U.S.A. the geography it has today.
Islamic Geography in the Middle Ages
Arab geographers kept ancient knowledge alive during the Dark Ages.
Arab geographers kept ancient knowledge alive during the Dark Ages.
Jonathan Swift on Geography
Jonathan Swift's famous verse about cartography.
Jonathan Swift's famous verse about cartography.
Marco Polo
Learn about the life of this great explorer who brought to Europe fanciful tales of Asia.
Learn about the life of this great explorer who brought to Europe fanciful tales of Asia.
Mason-Dixon Line
Learn about the 18th century boundary that became a 19th century symbol of the Civil War, slavery, and states' rights.
Learn about the 18th century boundary that became a 19th century symbol of the Civil War, slavery, and states' rights.
More Place Names
What country's name means "city of lions"? What country is named for the Latin word for prophesy? Find out the interesting meanings behind these ordinary place names.
What country's name means "city of lions"? What country is named for the Latin word for prophesy? Find out the interesting meanings behind these ordinary place names.
Place Names
How did the Amazon River get its name? What did the 17th century governor of Virginia have to do with the naming of Delaware? Find out the meaning behind these and other place names.
How did the Amazon River get its name? What did the 17th century governor of Virginia have to do with the naming of Delaware? Find out the meaning behind these and other place names.
Prester John
In the twelfth century, a mysterious letter began to circulate around Europe. It told of a magical kingdom in the East that was in danger of being overrun by infidels and barbarians. This letter was supposedly written by a king known as Prester John.
In the twelfth century, a mysterious letter began to circulate around Europe. It told of a magical kingdom in the East that was in danger of being overrun by infidels and barbarians. This letter was supposedly written by a king known as Prester John.
Prince Henry the Navigator and the Institute at Sagres
The story of how Portugal, under the leadership of Prince Henry, became the great center of world exploration.
The story of how Portugal, under the leadership of Prince Henry, became the great center of world exploration.
Ptolemy
This famous Roman geographer invented latitude and longitude.
This famous Roman geographer invented latitude and longitude.
The International Map of the World
Learn about the huge project to create a standardized map of the world, known also as the Millionth Map, from your About.com Guide to Geography.
Learn about the huge project to create a standardized map of the world, known also as the Millionth Map, from your About.com Guide to Geography.
The Spanish Empire
A description of the Spanish Empire in the sixteenth century in the New World of Latin America and South America and Asia - New Castile, New Granada, and New Spain. From your About.com expert Guide to Geography.
A description of the Spanish Empire in the sixteenth century in the New World of Latin America and South America and Asia - New Castile, New Granada, and New Spain. From your About.com expert Guide to Geography.
Timeline of Geographic History
Gain an appreciation and understanding of the history of geography through this online timeline.
Gain an appreciation and understanding of the history of geography through this online timeline.
Treaty of Tordesillas
Discover how Portugal wrestled the New World away from Spain and the Pope, making Portuguese the language of Brazil.
Discover how Portugal wrestled the New World away from Spain and the Pope, making Portuguese the language of Brazil.
Two Schools of Geographic Thought
Geography intern Amanda Briney writes about the history of the two main schools of geographic thought in the United States - the Berkeley School and the Midwest School.
Geography intern Amanda Briney writes about the history of the two main schools of geographic thought in the United States - the Berkeley School and the Midwest School.
Union Jack
Information and history of the Union Jack flag of the United Kingdom.
Information and history of the Union Jack flag of the United Kingdom.
William Morris Davis
William Morris Davis is often called the 'father of American geography' for his work in not only helping to establish geography as an academic discipline but also for his advancement of physical geography and the development of geomorphology.
William Morris Davis is often called the 'father of American geography' for his work in not only helping to establish geography as an academic discipline but also for his advancement of physical geography and the development of geomorphology.