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Jim Thompson wrote:

> The more I dig into the history of navigation, the more puzzled I am about
> the origin of the notion that the earth was (is) flat.  Did anybody prior to
> 1800 really believe that?  Is the notion a modern invention?  Clearly
> scholars back to at least the Greeks in 600 BC believed that the earth was
> spherical.

I don't think that any educated person in the Western world has supposed
that the world is flat for a very long time, though that might depend on
the definition of "educated". Certainly, the old myth that Columbus'
contemporaries believed in a flat Earth is pure garbage. [Those
geographers who opposed his plans did so because they not only knew that
the Earth is spherical but also knew, with considerable precision, just
how big it is. Columbus had to fudge his numbers to bring China to the
approximate position of Bermuda and to anyone with any real
understanding, the fudging was obvious. Why Columbus was so convinced,
and how he convinced Isabela, is a fascinating topic but doesn't detract
from the correct knowledge of contemporary scholars.]

But did "anybody" believe in a flat Earth? Sure they did. Many people
still do, particularly those who live landlocked lives but even some who
make their livings at sea (hopefully only as seamen, not navigators!).
Until modern educational systems came along, you have to distinguish
those few with specialist training and those very few willing to think
for themselves, from the great mass of humanity.


Trevor Kenchington


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Trevor J. Kenchington PhD                         Gadus@iStar.ca
Gadus Associates,                                 Office(902) 889-9250
R.R.#1, Musquodoboit Harbour,                     Fax   (902) 889-9251
Nova Scotia  B0J 2L0, CANADA                      Home  (902) 889-3555

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