Definition of periphery

The word "periphery" derives from the ancient Greek word "periphereia," which means "circuming" or "going around." It is the equivalent of the Latin word "circumferentia," which also translates to "going around." The Greek philosopher Pythagoras used the term to describe the outer edges of the Earth, which he believed were circular in shape. This meaning evolved over time, especially during the Renaissance when explorers like Columbus and Magellan began charting and describing the outer regions of the world. By the 16th century, "periphery" had come to refer specifically to the fringes or outskirts of a territory or region, often implying that these areas were less developed or significant than the central or interior regions. Consequently, the term has been adopted in fields ranging from geography and political science to economics and psychology, where it's used to denote less urbanized, less populous, or less affluent areas that may be marginalized or overlooked.