Byzantium Quote by Strabo
“There remain of Europe, first, Macedonia and the part of Thrace that are contiguous to it and extend as far as Byzantium; secondly, Greece; and thirdly, the Islands that are close by. Macedonia, of course, is a part of Greece, yet now, since I am following the nature and shape of the place geographically, I have decided to classify it apart from the rest of Greece and to join it with that part of Thrace.”
About This Quote
Source Geography: Geographica, Book 7, 1st century BCE
Strabo describes the political and geographic divisions of Europe, separating Macedonia from Greece based on geography.
In simple terms: He classifies regions by geography rather than politics.
Key Takeaway
Use geographic context to understand regional identities.
Themes
geography
politics
regional identity
Mood
analytical
neutral
Type
historical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic study
- historical analysis
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
historical geography
territorial classification
Questions to Reflect On
- How does geography influence political borders?
- Should cultural identity affect regional classification?
A Different Perspective
Geographic classification may ignore cultural ties.
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