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Question: Who proved that the world was round, not flat!?
I'm aware that the world was thought of as flat,
But when and by whom was it proved not to be so!?

Thank you very much indeed for your help :)Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
http://answers!.yahoo!.com/question/index!?!.!.!.

Pythagoras put the spherical earth theory forward way back in 600BC

Ptolemy mapped a spherical Earth & defined longitude & latitude in the first century AD

Marco Polo, Columbus & DaGamma's explorations really only reinforced the BELIEF that the Earth was round!.

It was Magellan who eventually proved it beyond all doubt by circumnavigating the globe!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Aristotle and fellow Greek astronomers were among the first to realize that the world was round!. Aristotle figured this out by observing lunar eclipses and realizing that the shadow on the moon matched with the horizon!. Since the shadow was round the earth must, therefore, be round!.

Various Greek and Roman scientists built upon these ideas!. However this knowledge was lost after the fall of the Roman Empire and the onslaught of the dark ages!. It is a common misconception that the educated people of the 15th century or anytime following the Renaissance believed the world was round because with the end of the Crusades, "Classical Learning" began again!. It was only the commoners and some clergy men that didn't know or believe that the world was round!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

proof of the Earth being round came after the voyage of Columbus!. When Newton discovered and measured the force of gravity, that number could then be tested anywhere the theory was known!. Since the force of gravity is roughly the same everywhere on the globe, it could be surmised that the Earth must be spherical!. If the Earth were not round, whole hemispheres would have different atmospheric pressure and significantly different sea levels!. also, pictures taken of the Earth in the last 50 years have proved absolutely conclusively that the Earth is round!. These are just the arguments that don't require much physics knowledge to explain, there are others that are more technical, but I think that the simplest arguments are the best!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

According to a previous Yahoo posting -

"I guess the person who 'proved' the world was round was Ferdinand Magellan, who was the first man to sail around the world!. That was the first time it was conclusively proven that the world was round!.!.!.!.!.!.____Those who have answered “Columbus” are completely wrong!. Everybody knew that the world was a sphere by the time Columbus was born, and everybody already knew that you could sail west to get to India!."Www@QuestionHome@Com

anyone who thinks it was columbus is an absolute moron!. archemedes proved the world was round in 250 BC!. he also calculated the correct circumphrence!. NO ONE since then believed the earth was flat, including before columbus set sail!. everyone knew the earth was round, which is why queen isabellea was willing to spend money on his planned journey to the other side of the globe!. do you actually think she would have hocked half the spanish treasury if anyone thought the boats were going to fall off the edge of the earth!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

what a bunch of moronsWww@QuestionHome@Com

Christopher Columbus did!.
He went to the Queen of Spain to see if she would give him money to find a route to India but he ended up in america!. He knew the world was round b/c when boats left, they eventually disappeared, meaning the world was round!.
Did you know he might have been Jewish!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

it was NOT columbus!. It was Ferdinand Magellen!. Magellen was the first person to circumnavigate the globe (sail around the world)!. It was widely known before Magellen's voyage that the world was round, however is voyage proved it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Technically the first person who actually proved it was Ferdinand Magellan when he made the first circumnavigation of the globe while in the service of the Spanish Crown looking for a westward route to the Spice Islands of Indonesia!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It was not generally thought of as flat!. Most thoughtful people could deduce that it was round!. Look up Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo Galileo and Sir Patrick Moore!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

They all got it right according to my history teacher, Columbus!. An Italian for the Spanish crown!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Christopher Columbus in 1500 and something i think !.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yep, Christopher Columbus!. Yep, when his ships didn't fall off the edge of the world, he just put two and two together!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think it was Christopher Colombus, I'm pretty shure!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Charles Arthur Iron!.While attempting to circumnavigate a
shirt collar!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It was Christopher Columbus when he sailed the seas!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

MagellenWww@QuestionHome@Com

Christopher ColumbusWww@QuestionHome@Com

some european mathematicianWww@QuestionHome@Com

christopher columbus!.!.!?!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

columbusWww@QuestionHome@Com

Mell GipsonWww@QuestionHome@Com

Some-one a darn site clever than me!!!Www@QuestionHome@Com

C!. Colmubus!.!.!.!.
i think i learned that in like 2nd Grade :DWww@QuestionHome@Com