Well round was a pretty common description going way, way back and of course, wrong.
Aristotle and Thales argued it was a sphere based mainly on the shadow during a Lunar eclipse and the fact that as one moved north or south different stars came in view. We do know that by the time of Erathosthenes the fact that the earth was a sphere was pretty much accepted. Posidonius and El Ma'mun each also later calculated the circumference, the former estimating an east west measure and the later a north south one. By the time of Newton the idea that it would not be a perfect sphere was being discussed.
The pratical knowledge though was way behind the pratcical application as while the philosophers were busy pondering and pandering their ideas, folk had already traveled all the way around the globe settling every continent.
Edited by jar, : No reason given.
Edited by jar, : No reason given.
Aslan is not a
Tame Lion
™ Version 4.2
