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tan Age produced a few great historians and poets； but not a single great philosopher or creative devotee of science。 Cicero； Lucian； Seneca； Marcus Aurelius； give us at best a reflection of Greek philosophy。 Pliny； the one world…famous name in the scientific annals of Rome； can lay claim to no higher credit than that of a marvellously industrious collector of factsthe compiler of an encyclopaedia which contains not one creative touch。 All in all； then； this epoch of Roman domination is one that need detain the historian of science but a brief moment。 With the culmination of Greek effort in the so…called Hellenistic period we have seen ancient science at its climax。 The Roman period is but a time of transition； marking； as it were； a plateau on the slope between those earlier heights and the deep； dark valleys of the Middle Ages。 Yet we cannot quite disregard the efforts of such workers as those we have just named。 Let us take a more specific glance at their accomplishments。
STRABO THE GEOGRAPHER The earliest of these workers in point of time is Strabo。 This most famous of ancient geographers was born in Amasia； Pontus； about 63 B。C。； and lived to the year 24 A。D。； living； therefore； in the age of Caesar and Augustus； during which the final transformation in the political position of the kingdom of Egypt was effected。 The name of Strabo in a modified form has become popularized through a curious circumstance。 The geographer； it appears； was afflicted with a peculiar squint of the eyes； hence the name strabismus； which the modern oculist applies to that particular infirmity。 Fortunately； the great geographer has not been forced to depend upon hearsay evidence for recognition。 His comprehensive work on geography has been preserved in its entirety； being one of the few expansive classical writings of which this is true。 The other writings of Strabo； however； including certain histories of which reports have come down to us； are entirely lost。 The geography is in many ways a remarkable book。 It is not； however； a work in which any important new principles are involved。 Rather is it typical of its age in that it is an elaborate compilation and a critical review of the labors of Strabo's predecessors。 Doubtless it contains a vast deal of new information as to the details of geographyprecise areas and distance； questions of geographical locations as to latitude and zones； and the like。 But however important these details may have been from a contemporary stand…point； they； of course； can have nothing more than historical interest to posterity。 The value of the work from our present stand…point is chiefly due to the criticisms which Strabo passes upon his forerunners； and to the incidental historical and scientific references with which his work abounds。 Being written in this closing period of ancient progress； and summarizing； as it does； in full detail the geographical knowledge of the time； it serves as an important guide…mark for the student of the progress of scientific thought。 We cannot do better than briefly to follow Strabo in his estimates and criticisms of the work of his predecessors； taking note thus of the point of view from which he himself looked out upon the world。 We shall thus gain a clear idea as to the state of scientific geography towards the close of the classical epoch。 〃If the scientific investigation of any subject be the proper avocation of the philosopher；〃 says Strabo； 〃geography； the science of which we propose to treat； is certainly entitled to a high place； and this is evident from many considerations。 They who first undertook to handle the matter were distinguished men。 Homer； Anaximander the Milesian； and Hecaeus （his fellow…citizen according to Eratosthenes）； Democritus； Eudoxus； Dicaearchus； and Ephorus； with many others； and after these； Eratosthenes； Polybius； and Posidonius； all of them philosophers。 Nor is the great learning through which alone this subject can be approached possessed by any but a person acquainted with both human and divine things； and these attainments constitute what is called philosophy。 In addition to its vast importance in regard to social life and the art of government； geography unfolds to us a celestial 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 happiness。〃 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 demonstrated by other writers； we shall here take for granted and receive as accurate what they have advanced。 We shall also assume that the earth is spheroidal； that its surface is likewise spheroidal and； above all； that bodies have a tendency towards its centre； which latter point is clear to the perception of the most average understanding。 However； we may show summarily that the earth is spheroidal； from the consideration that all things； however distant； tend to its centre； and that every body is attracted towards its centre by gravity。 This is more distinctly proved from observations of the sea and sky； for here the evidence of the senses and common observation is alone requisite。 The convexity of the sea is a further proof of this to those who have sailed； for they cannot perceive lights at a distance when placed at the same level as their eyes； and if raised on high they at once become perceptible to vision though at the same time farther removed。 So when the eye is raised it sees what before was utterly imperceptible。 Homer speaks of this when he says：
〃 'Lifted up on the vast wave he quickly beheld afar。' Sailors as they approach their destination behold the shore continually raising itself to their view； and objects which had at first seemed low begin to lift themselves。 Our gnomons； also； are； among other things； evidence of the revolution of the heavenly bodies； and common…sense at once shows us that if the depth of the earth were infinite such a revolution could not take place。〃＇1＇ Elsewhere Strabo criticises Eratosthenes for having entered into a long discussion as to the form of the earth。 This matter； Strabo thinks； 〃should h