did people actually think the world was flat?

Of course they did.

How can you say look at the moon and the sun? They are flat disks in the sky...
 
no, there's no evidence to suggest people thought the world was flat, at least not in any great numbers. it's one of those things which has become an old wives tale and has generally been accepted as a "look at how stupid they were back then" thing.

B@
 
Historically views varied and the theory of a spherical earth was posited in varying forms much sooner than you think, but largely it is true yes.

Gilly said:
How can you say look at the moon and the sun? They are flat disks in the sky...
Click to expand...
In the absence of complicated astronomy, you can observe distinctive marks in the moon and use these features to theorise that it at the very least occasionally tilts on its axis (it does not rotate as the dark side of the moon is largely permanent).
 
Last edited:
B@Th*nG said:
no, there's no evidence to suggest people thought the world was flat, at least not in any great numbers. it's one of those things which has become an old wives tale and has generally been accepted as a "look at how stupid they were back then" thing.

B@
Click to expand...

well those of a backward religious variety certainly did...

else why would they have locked up gallileo for suggesting that it was not?!
 
guyfawkes5 said:
You can observe distinctive marks in the moon and use these features to theorise that it at the very least occasionally tilts on its axis (it does not rotate as the dark side of the moon is largely permanent).
Click to expand...

I fail to see how that makes a difference to it being flat :/ Or at least non-spherical.
 
Surely all features on a flat surface would be permantly visible to the earth if it was faced towards it? Thus if you were able to observe any new features on the periphery of the face then you could say that at the very least it was a curved object capable of rotation and not flat.
 
Nickg said:
well those of a backward religious variety certainly did...

else why would they have locked up gallileo for suggesting that it was not?!
Click to expand...

they locked up gallileo for suggesting the earth wasn't the centre of the universe didn't they? it sort of messed with their religious beliefs somewhat ;) what difference does it make if the world's flat?

B@
 
Last edited:
I suppose, if one wanted to be pedantic, you could argue that at any one point on the earth's circumference, it is flat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom