Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

sarisataka

(22,696 posts)

15. People knew the world was round since ancient Greek times

Reply to KS Toronado (Reply #10)

Fri Mar 12, 2021, 01:31 PM

Mar 2021

as I understand, the question was what the circumference actually was. Many had the correct distance and thought ships would run out of supplies before they could reach Asia- being mostly unaware of North and South America. Others thought the circumference was less and the journey could be made. Columbus fell into the second group, therefore he believed the land he arrived at was near India

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

22 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

From The Guardian: Scientists may have solved ancient mystery of 'first computer' [View all] abqtommy Mar 2021 OP

Worth a big KnR... Hugin Mar 2021 #1

K&R & thanks. nt tblue37 Mar 2021 #2

another vid from a replica maker - clickspring Blues Heron Mar 2021 #3

That's the guy who's building a replica, using ancient techniques. lagomorph777 Mar 2021 #6

Clickspring is building his model... hunter Mar 2021 #7

Lost a couple of hours watching those. Thanks! marble falls Mar 2021 #21

So cool soothsayer Mar 2021 #4

If this is the first you've heard of the Antikythera Mechanism, prepare to have your mind blown. lagomorph777 Mar 2021 #5

So... they found the Aelithiometer berni_mccoy Mar 2021 #8

I've read that it also ticked off when the Olympics would be held... nt mitch96 Mar 2021 #9

If mechanism is 2000 yrs old, then why prior to Columbus did people think/know the world was flat? KS Toronado Mar 2021 #10

That the Flat Earth hypothesis was widespread is more or less a myth. BobTheSubgenius Mar 2021 #13

Only uneducated people and Bible literalists believed the world was flat William Seger Mar 2021 #14

People knew the world was round since ancient Greek times sarisataka Mar 2021 #15

Columbus was a skilled navigator. He knew the Earth's diameter, and he knew America existed. lagomorph777 Mar 2021 #19

Makes sense, what I had related sarisataka Mar 2021 #20

They didn't. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Mesopotamians all measured the Earth's diameter. lagomorph777 Mar 2021 #18

kick and rec SoonerPride Mar 2021 #11

Kewl. I've always wondered about this device. ananda Mar 2021 #12

Fascinating. I love this kind of thing. nt crickets Mar 2021 #16

This totally helps me solve the problem of Steampunk Interplanetery Travel Noodleboy13 Mar 2021 #17

Was that the "first" computer or the beta? marble falls Mar 2021 #22