How did Aristotle first prove the Earth was round?
Answer (3)
Aristotle noticed that there were star constellations that could be seen in what is today the south of Europe that couldn't be seen further north, or more generally speaking that the night sky changed as one moved further away from the equator. Since that wouldn't be possible if the earth had a flat surface, he concluded that the earth had to be round.
How Aristotle Proved the Earth Was Round:
Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher, provided substantial evidence that the Earth is round. One of his arguments observed that during a lunar eclipse, the shadow cast by the Earth on the Moon is always round, which could only result from a spherical body. If Earth were flat, its shadow would occasionally appear as a line when sunlight hit it edge-on. Additionally, Aristotle noted that in different locations, such as Egypt and farther north, certain stars were visible whereas others were not, indicating a curved surface.
Before Aristotle , the concept of a spherical Earth can be traced back to Pythagoras, who viewed circles and spheres as perfect forms. Later philosophers like Eudoxus and Aristarchus also adopted the spherical Earth view. This knowledge was further developed through measurements made by Eratosthenes, who was the first to calculate Earth's circumference with remarkable accuracy for his time.
Aristotle proved the Earth was round through observations of changing constellations, the round shadow of the Earth during lunar eclipses, and the way ships disappear hull-first over the horizon. His conclusions contributed significantly to the understanding of Earth’s shape in ancient times. These ideas laid the foundation for future scientific inquiry into the nature of our planet.
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