When did people think the world was flat? This question has intrigued historians and scientists alike for centuries. The belief that the Earth was flat was widespread among ancient civilizations, but it wasn’t until the Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries that this misconception became a subject of heated debate.
The notion that the Earth was flat dates back to ancient times, with various cultures holding this belief. For instance, the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all had geocentric worldviews, which implied that the Earth was flat. This perspective was further reinforced by the lack of evidence for a spherical Earth, as the technology available at the time was limited.
However, as time went on, some ancient philosophers began to question the flat Earth theory. For example, Pythagoras, a Greek philosopher who lived around 570-495 BCE, suggested that the Earth was a sphere. His theory was based on the observation that the shadow of the Earth on the moon during a lunar eclipse was always circular, which could only be explained if the Earth was round.
The debate over the shape of the Earth continued throughout the Middle Ages. Some scholars, such as the Arab polymath Al-Farghani, proposed that the Earth was spherical. However, the flat Earth belief remained prevalent among the general population, particularly in Europe.
The Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries marked a turning point in the debate. As explorers like Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Ferdinand Magellan embarked on their voyages, they provided evidence that contradicted the flat Earth theory. For instance, the phenomenon of the Earth’s curvature was observed during their travels, as they noticed the gradual disappearance of the horizon as they sailed further into the ocean.
One of the most compelling pieces of evidence came from the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias, who became the first European to sail around the Cape of Good Hope in 1488. Dias observed that the stars appeared to shift position in the sky as he traveled southward, which could only be explained if the Earth was curved.
Despite these observations, some people continued to believe in the flat Earth theory even after the Age of Exploration. The flat Earth movement gained momentum in the 19th and 20th centuries, with various organizations and individuals advocating for this viewpoint. However, as scientific knowledge advanced and more evidence emerged, the flat Earth theory became increasingly discredited.
In conclusion, the belief that the world was flat persisted for centuries, but it was primarily during the Age of Exploration that this misconception began to crumble. As explorers and scientists provided more evidence, the flat Earth theory gradually lost its hold on the general population, paving the way for our modern understanding of the Earth as a sphere.
