History of Geography and Discovery
Test your knowledge of the history of geography and geographical discovery, from ancient Greek cartographers and Arab scholars to modern theorists and explorers.
Questions
Who is considered the father of geography?
- Aristotle
- Eratosthenes
- Ptolemy
- Strabo
What was the name of the ancient Greek map of the world?
- The Anaximander Map
- The Hecataeus Map
- The Herodotus Map
- The Ptolemy Map
Which ancient Greek philosopher proposed that the Earth was spherical?
- Aristotle
- Plato
- Pythagoras
- Socrates
What was the name of the book written by Ptolemy in the 2nd century AD that had a profound influence on the development of geography?
- The Almagest
- The Geography
- The Natural History
- The Principia
Which Arab geographer wrote a book in the 10th century AD that described the countries and peoples of the world?
- Al-Biruni
- Al-Idrisi
- Ibn Battuta
- Ibn Khaldun
Who was the first European to circumnavigate the globe?
- Christopher Columbus
- Ferdinand Magellan
- Vasco da Gama
- John Cabot
Which German geographer developed the concept of the five major landmasses, or continents, in the 18th century?
- Alexander von Humboldt
- Carl Ritter
- Friedrich Ratzel
- Immanuel Kant
Who was the first person to propose the theory of continental drift in the early 20th century?
- Alfred Wegener
- Charles Darwin
- James Hutton
- Thomas Malthus
What is the name of the theory that explains the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates?
- Continental drift
- Plate tectonics
- Seafloor spreading
- Subduction
Which modern geographer is known for his work on the relationship between humans and their environment?
- David Harvey
- Jared Diamond
- Neil Smith
- Yi-Fu Tuan