Changes

The Flat Earth idea is a primitive concept of the earth as a [[plane (geometry)|plane]] or a large circle. <ref> "Among various rude tribes we find survivals of a primitive idea that the earth is a flat table or disk, ceiled, domed, or canopied by the sky, and that the sky rests upon the mountains as pillars." </ref>

The Flat Earth idea is a primitive concept of the earth as a [[plane (geometry)|plane]] or a large circle. <ref> "Among various rude tribes we find survivals of a primitive idea that the earth is a flat table or disk, ceiled, domed, or canopied by the sky, and that the sky rests upon the mountains as pillars." </ref>

The ancient Greeks knew that the Earth was round; Eratosthenes had correctly estimated its circumference to within a few percent. <ref> "Eratosthenes concluded the Earth to be 40,000 kilometers in circumference, or approximately 25,000 miles. Within a few percentage points, this is correct.." [http://www.sterlinghousepublisher.com/remote%20pages/excerpts/Pages%20from%20Sum%20of%20Existence.pdf The Sum of Existence], by A.R. Barnes, Jr. </ref>

The ancient Greeks knew that the Earth was round; Eratosthenes used geometry and a hired pace man to estimate its circumference to within a few percent. <ref> "Eratosthenes concluded the Earth to be 40,000 kilometers in circumference, or approximately 25,000 miles. Within a few percentage points, this is correct.." [http://www.sterlinghousepublisher.com/remote%20pages/excerpts/Pages%20from%20Sum%20of%20Existence.pdf The Sum of Existence], by A.R. Barnes, Jr. </ref>

Medieval Europeans knew this, and had correctly warned Columbus that he would never get to India with his limited supplies. Columbus relied on a fallacious argument that the Earth was much smaller than the Greeks estimated.

Medieval Europeans knew this, and had correctly warned Columbus that he would never get to India with his limited supplies. Columbus relied on a fallacious argument that the Earth was much smaller than the Greeks estimated.