Subject: Re: [HM] Flat earth fallacy
From: Lambrou Michael (lambrou@itia.math.uch.gr)
Date: Wed Feb 23 2000 - 14:08:32 EST
[Vassilis Kyrtatas]
>
> 1. Is it true that people in the Middle Ages actually believed such a
> thing?
Some did. The main example, in the Byzantine world, being Cosmas
Indicopleustis (= Cosmas who sailed to India). I am writing from memory
now, but I recall he lived during the 6th century AD. His book "Christian
Topography" was widely read. There he says that earth was flat and that
there was a large mountain right in the middle: He explains nightfall
by having the Sun going behind this mountain periodically.
> 2. If so, would such flat earthers include scientists and other scholars?
>
> 3. Is it possible that the wisdom of people like Ptolemy, Eratosthenes,
> Aristotle, all of who believed that the Earth is spherical, was lost in
> the Middle Ages?
Remember that superstition and not scientific attitude was the prevailing
point of view then. In any case the (few) scientists believed the same as
the ancients. Strabo the Geographer, for example, on the question whether
earth was round, answers (I am writing this from memory) "obviously. Even
Homer knew that since in a line of his Odyssey says that some shipwrecked
people waited for the waves to rise so that they could see further in
their outlook for land, from the top of the wave". He then goes on to give
estimates of the distances of towns on the same level, from the most
western tip of the known world to the most eastern one. Interestingly he
concludes "that the uknown part of the Earth is larger that the known
part.
If you need, I will give you the exact references.
All the best, Michael Lambrou
[Vassilis Kyrtatas]
>
> It is not uncommon to read in pre-university student essays that "people
> once believed that the earth is flat" and even that "people who suggested
> otherwise were burnt at the stake". I find this very disturbing.
[John Harper]
>
> Even in Greece?! I thought burning at the stake was a Western aberration,
> both Catholic and Protestant; did the Orthodox do it too?
No, the Orthodox church never burnt people. The highest punisment for
ordinary people's gravely serious offences, was excommunication. For
priests the corresponding punisment was de-ordination and then
excommunication. In any case the procedure was to call the offender for an
"apology". This means a discussion, like in a court, of the matter
concerned. Never was this done under force or pain. The offender, if found
guilty, was given the chance to sign a "regret", in which case the matter
closed.
Of course, the gravely serious offences can only include matters that the
church is interested. Vaguely speaking, theological matters.
Michael Lambrou.
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