According to the ancient Greek version of the world map from the fifth century B.C., the outermost layer of the world was ocean, and in the center of the ocean was one large continent. In the middle of the continent, there was the Mediterranean Sea. This continent was divided into three parts: Europa, Asia and Libya, which are now known as Europe, Asia and Africa. Ancient Greeks believed the farthest west was the vast Atlantic Ocean, while the Pamir Plateau was considered the eastern end of the world. As for the European hinterland to the north, it was described as a harsh and barren land, while the south, Africa, had the endless Sahara Desert.
From this perspective, Greece does seem to be at the center of the world. The ancient Greeks…
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Beijing Review (Digital) - 1 Issue, Vol.67/No.18