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To: Bernard Marx; Jedi Master Pikachu

The calculations of the Earth’s size by Eratosthenes and and Ptolemy differed considerably, with Ptolemy thinking it was something like 1/3 smaller.

The actual size calculated by either is debatable, since we aren’t sure of the exact length of the unit of measurement, the stadion, they used. There were several different stadions in use at the time.

Eratosthenes is highly accurate only if you make all possible assumptions in his favor, and the accuracy may be partly a matter of luck. But it was still an amazing feat of mental gymnastics, given the highly limited tech he had to work with.

Columbus believed Japan was only about 5000 kilometers from Europe, or claimed he did to get his financing, using figures closer to those of Ptolemy. The actual distance is about 20,000 kilometers.

IOW, Chris claimed Japan was about where the eastern Caribbean is. Had the Americas not been there, he and all his crew would have died long before they reached Asia. The Spanish government skeptics, using Eratosthenes figures, were actually correct.


24 posted on 10/13/2013 1:03:56 AM PDT by Sherman Logan
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To: Sherman Logan
The calculations of the Earth’s size by Eratosthenes and and Ptolemy differed considerably

I know all that, and you completely miss the essential point: both knew the Earth is spherical some 2,200 years ago.

26 posted on 10/13/2013 9:10:09 AM PDT by Bernard Marx
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