This biographical dictionary provides sketches of seventy- seven individuals--explorers, writers, and scholars--from Aristotle to David W. Harvey, who made significant contributions to the development of the discipline of geography. The work examines a cross section of geographers from a variety of subfields within the discipline, from ancient to modern.

Each entry examines the career and impact of the individual and then provides selected bibliographies of works by and about the person. The work contains internal cross-referencing, and the entire volume concludes with appendices listing the individuals chronologically as well as by country of birth. It has a general subject index and essential reference material for the general public and students looking for information on key figures and a background to the discipline.