Previous Page
| Next Page
|
for action; limited, for limited actions; vast, for grander
deeds; but that which contains them all, and is the scene of
the greatest undertakings, constitutes what we term the habitable earth; and they are the greatest generals who, subduing
nations and kingdoms under one sceptre, and one political
administration, have acquired dominion over land and sea. It is
clear then, that geography is essential to all the transactions of
the statesman, informing us, as it does, of the position of the
continents, seas, and oceans of the whole habitable earth. Information of especial interest to those who are concerned to
know the exact truth of such particulars, and whether the places
have been explored or not: for government will certainly be better administered where the size and position of the country, its
own peculiarities, and those of the surrounding districts, are
understood. Forasmuch as there are many sovereigns who rule
in different regions, and some stretch their dominion over others'
territories, and undertake the government of different nations
and kingdoms, and thus enlarge the extent of their dominion,
it is not possible that either themselves, nor yet writers on
geography, should be equally acquainted with the whole, but
to both there is a great deal more or less known. Indeed,
were the whole earth under one government and one administration, it is hardly possible that we should be informed of
every locality in an equal degree; for even then we should be
most acquainted with the places nearest us: and after all, it
is better that we should have a more perfect description of
these, since, on account of their proximity, there is greater
reed for it. We see there is no reason to be surprised that
there should be one chorographer note for the Indians, another for
the Ethiopians, and a third for the Greeks and Romans.
What use would it be to the Indians if a geographer should
thus describe Boeotia to them, in the words of Homer:—
The dwellers on the rocks
Iliad ii. 496.
Of Aulis follow'd, with the hardy clans
Of Hyria, Schoenus, Scolus. note
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
Strabo, Geography (English) (XML Header) [genre: prose] [word count] [lemma count] [Str.].