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Measuring the Earth
This biography introduces Eratosthenes whose mathematical approach opened new ways to describe and understand the world. Using mathematics to study the earth, Eratosthenes broke new ground. In his monumental three-volume Geographica, he took a global view of the world. With its title, he coined a new word, geography. His work in chronology, theater criticism, and as director of the Alexandrian library were among the Greeks' valuable contributions to Western learning.
* Reviews *
Great Minds of Ancient Science and Math series. These well-documented biographies surround their subjects with considerable historical context. Eratosthenes, as head of the Library of Alexandria, not only calculated Earth's measurements but also wrote poetry. Galen, "first among physicians" in second-century Greece, insisted that doctors learn anatomy, not just theory. Captioned illustrations are generally helpful; a few experiments conclude each volume. The writing, though straightforward, is fairly dull. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind., The Horn Book Guide Fall 2009
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4-6 IL
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4-8 GRL
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