Astronomical Determination of Latitude 34 Astronomical Determination of Longitude 34 Cartography 35 The Expansion of Regional Knowledge 36 Expansion of Greek Regional Knowledge 37 Geography at Alexandria 38 Hellenistic Regional Knowledge 39 Regional Knowledge of Mela and Pliny 40 The “Periplus of the Erythraean Sea” 40 Limits of Ancient Regional Knowledge on the South and East 41 II THE CONTRIBUTION OF WESTERN CHRISTENDOM BEFORE 1100 A. D. 43 Introduction 43 Scriptural Influence on Early Medieval Geography 43 Ignorance of the Best Work of Antiquity 43 Scientific Stagnation During the Early Middle Ages 44 Sources 45 The Bible 45 Writings of the Church Fathers 46 Interpretation of the Bible 46 Classical Influences 47 Encyclopedic Compilations 47 Miscellaneous Geographical Writings 48 Legends 49 Books of Travel and Description 50 The History of the Universe 51 Christianity Opposed to Belief in an Eternal Universe 51 The Creation 52 Shape and Size of the Earth 53 Early Christian Belief in a Flat Earth 53 Early Christian Belief in a Spherical Earth 54 Size of the Earth 54 Zones and the Antipodes 55 Zones 55 The Antipodes 55 Physical Geography 57 Meteorology 57 The Waters Above the Firmament 58 The Congregation of the Waters 59 The Nile Flood 60 The Earth Upon the Waters 61