The Farther
Peninsula Of India Is Infinitely Better Situated In This Respect.
At that very remote period, when sacred and profane history first displays
the situation, and narrates the transactions of the human race, the
countries, few in number, and comparatively of small extent, that were
washed by the waters of the Mediterranean, comprised the whole of the earth
which was then known.
Asia Minor, which possessed the advantage of lying
not only on this sea, but also on the Euxine, and which is moreover level
in its surface, and fertile in its soil, seems to have been the first
additional portion of the earth that became thoroughly known. The
commercial enterprize of the Phoenicians, and their colonists the
Carthaginians, - the conquests of Alexander the Great, and of the Romans,
gradually extended the knowledge of the earth in all directions, but
principally in the middle regions of Europe, in the north of Africa, and in
Asia towards the Indus. At the period when the Roman empire was destroyed,
little more was known; and during the middle ages, geography was feebly
assisted and extended by a desire to possess the luxuries of the East,
(which seems to have been as powerful and general with the conquerors of
the Romans as with the Romans themselves,) by the religious zeal of a few
priests, and by the zeal for knowledge which actuated a still smaller
number of travellers.
The desire of obtaining the luxuries of the East, however, was the
predominating principle, and the efficient cause of the extension of
geography. Actuated by it, the passage of the Cape of Good Hope was
accomplished; the eastern limits of Asia were reached; America was
discovered, and even the Frozen Seas were braved and carefully examined, in
the hope that by them a speedier passage might be found to the countries
which produced these luxuries. At length the love of conquest, of wealth,
and of luxury, which alone are sufficiently gross and stimulating in their
nature to act on men in their rudest and least intellectual state, and
which do not loose their hold on the most civilized, enlightened, and
virtuous people, was assisted by the love of science; and though when this
union took place, little of the globe was unknown, as respected its grand
outline, and the general extent and relative situation of the seas and
lands which compose its surface, yet much remained to be accomplished in
determining the details of geography; in fixing accurately and
scientifically the situation of places; in exhibiting the surface of the
land, as it was distinguished by mountains, plains, lakes, rivers, &c.; in
gaining a full and accurate knowledge of the natural history of each
country, and of the manners, customs, institutions, religion, manufactures
and commerce of its inhabitants.
Before we give a sketch of the progress of commercial enterprize during the
last hundred years, it will be proper to notice the advancement of
geographical science during the same period, and the assistance which was
thus afforded, as well as from other sources, to those who travelled both
by sea and land, for the purpose of discovering or exploring foreign and
distant countries. This part of our subject seems naturally to divide
itself into three parts; viz. the improvement of maps, which was equally
advantageous to sea and land travellers; those particulars which rendered
navigation more safe, easy, and expeditious; and those particulars which
bestowed the same benefit on land travellers.
The science of geography dates its origin, as we have already mentioned,
from Mercator, though he was unable to point out and explain the law,
according to which the projection which bears his name might be laid down
on fixed principles: this was effected by an Englishman of the name of
Wright. Mathematical geography, strictly so called, seems to have owed its
origin to the discussion respecting the flattening of the Poles, which took
place, in the beginning of the eighteenth century, among Newton, Huygens,
and Cassini, and which was afterwards continued by some of the most
distinguished mathematicians and natural philosophers of France and
England. Still, however, the construction of maps derived little advantage
from the application of strict science to geography, till Delisle, in
France, and Haase, in Germany, directed their attention and talents to this
particular subject: their efforts were indeed great, but in some measure
unavailing, in consequence of the want of sufficient materials. The same
impediment lay in the way of Busching, notwithstanding he brought to the
task the characteristic patience and research of a German. To him, however,
and the more illustrious D'Anville, accurate delineations and descriptions
of the countries of the globe may first justly be ascribed.
D'Anville possessed excellent and ample materials, in authentic relations,
and plans and delineations made on the spot: with these he advanced to the
task, calling to his aid mathematical principles. He first exhibited in his
maps the interior of Asia free from that confusion and error by which all
former maps had obscured it; and struck out from his map of Africa many
imaginary kingdoms. Ancient geography, and the still more involved and dark
geography of the middle ages, received from him the first illumination; and
if subsequent geographers have been able to add to and correct his labours,
it has been chiefly owing to their possessing materials which did not exist
in his time.
Busching confined himself entirely to modern geography; and though his
minuteness is generally tiresome and superfluous, yet we can pardon it, for
the accuracy of his details: he was patronized and assisted in his labours
by all the governments, of the north, who gave him access to every document
which could further his object.
Since the time of D'Anville and Busching, the description of countries, and
the construction of maps, have proceeded with a rapidly encreasing decree
of accuracy. In ancient geography, Gosselin, Rennell, Vincent, and Malte
Brun, are among the most celebrated names. Two Germans, Voss and Munnert,
have directed their labours to illustrate and explain the geographical
details and hints of the Greek poets.
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