Amasya was the patria of our geographer, a city situated about 82 km from the south coast of the Black Sea (see Map 3, Asia Minor), but considerably further by road from Samsun (Amisus). The rugged mountain chain of the Pontic Alps creates a modern road journey of about 136 km, and follows an ancient itinerary formerly known as the Baghdad road. Amasya was the only considerable inland city within Pontus. It was at an important crossroads, on the main route from Amisus to Mazaca, as well as on the East–West route from Armenia to Bithynia. The geographer twice mentions his connection with Amasya, always with considerable affection (12.3.15; 12.3.39); the more interesting of these passages is a detailed account of the site which is central to the present discussion. I intend to discuss here Strabo's approach to a familiar environment surrounding Amasya in particular but also Pontus in its wider scope. This approach would seem to be a yard-stick for assessing the development of his approach to geographical theory and descriptive geography. I shall look at Strabo's early life in Amasya and environs and discuss his interest in the location and fortification of the city as well as his concern with the economic geography of the surrounding territory. Finally I shall assess his political coverage of the region.