The idea that Europeans thought the Earth was flat until the 15th century is
one of the great myths of modern history, apparently invented and perpetuated
by some 19th century writers.
It’s a fascinating story about how it actually made it into history books. I
have a book somewhere that tells the story.
Most historians believe that educated people, from the time of the Greeks,
always knew the Earth was spherical.
Columbus’ problem was that he didn’t believe the ancient Greeks who used the
horizon to make a pretty good guess about the size of the Earth. He thought it
was much smaller.
An interesting belief that was prevalent, however, was that Antarctica was a
large, temperate continent with millions of people living there. Some ambitious
early explorers actually returned and told tall tales about visiting there.
Jack Brennan
Shanachie, 1974 Bristol 30
Former C&C 25
Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
From: Ronald B. Frerker
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 11:34 AM
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Subject: Re: Stus-List Sextant
Greeks and Arabs were aware of a round earth back in 400BC.
After the Greek epicycle fiasco, they probably figured out about the
earth rotating about the sun.
Given the Arabs early knowledge of navigation, they might well have known
this also but Europe didn't always have knowledge of their early science; even
to today. Their astrolabe seemed to have a lot of info. I haven't figured out
anything more than its basic angle measurement.
Staffs and backstaffs predate the sextant for measuring and of course,
the knotted string/wood dowel also. Quadrant in Columbus' time.
Europe on board with heliocentric theory about 1500AD; completely
abandoned flat earth finally around 1500AD, probably some much earlier.
Polynesians were seafarers, would be interesting to know their theory of
the celestial relationship.
Ron
Wild Cheri
C&C 30
STL
From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of
dwight veinot
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 10:01 AM
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Subject: Re: Stus-List Sextant
Was the sextant invented before we knew the difference?
Dwight Veinot
C&C 35 MKII, Alianna
Head of St. Margaret's Bay, NS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: CnC-List
[wlmailhtml:/mc/compose?to=cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of
Frederick G Street
Sent: January 28, 2013 10:45 AM
To: wlmailhtml:/mc/compose?to=cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Subject: Re: Stus-List Sextant
Yes, that's common knowledge; but the process of doing celestial
navigation actually presumes that the earth (or your location on it) is fixed,
and the sun is doing the moving.
Here's one of the more concise books on the topic:
http://www.amazon.com/Celestial-Navigation-Yachtsmen-Mary-Blewitt/dp/0070059284
Fred Street -- Minneapolis
S/V Oceanis (1979 C&C Landfall 38) -- on the hard in Bayfield , WI
:^(
On Jan 28, 2013, at 6:01 AM, dwight veinot
<wlmailhtml:/mc/compose?to=dwightvei...@hfx.eastlink.ca> wrote:
Is it not common knowledge that the sun essentially remains fixed for
all intents and purposes and the earth does the moving?
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