The Historical Context: Spherical Earth in the Middle Ages

As far back as the 6th century BCE, the philosopher Pythagoras suggested that the Earth was spherical. Later, Eratosthenes of Alexandria built upon this knowledge, calculating the Earth’s circumference in the 2nd century BC.

How precise was Eratosthenes? He estimated the circumference to be around 252,000 stadia, which translates to approximately 39,060 km to 40,320 km. This estimation closely aligns with the actual circumference of about 40,075 km.

Further supporting this notion, the Greek writer Megasthenes, during his travels to India in the 3rd century BC, noted that the Brahmins believed in a spherical Earth. A prominent scholar from the 5th century AD, Aryabhatta, computed the Earth's circumference to be 39,668 km, showcasing a remarkable understanding of geometry.

You might wonder, didn’t the collapse of civilization after the Fall of Rome in 476 AD erase all knowledge? This assumption is incorrect.

Bishop Isidore of Seville, in the late 5th century AD, acknowledged the Earth’s spherical nature in his work, Etymologies. This indicates that early Christian scholars had retained knowledge from ancient Greek, Roman, and Indian civilizations.

Further evidence can be found in the writings of the 7th-century English monk, the Venerable Bede, who discussed the spherical Earth in his book, Reckoning of Time. In the 8th century, Caliph Al-Mamun commissioned astronomers to measure the Earth’s circumference in the Islamic World, achieving a 15% margin of error—still demonstrating a consensus against the flat-earth belief.

Over a hundred manuscripts compiled by Professor Reinhard Krüger from the University of Stuttgart affirm that anyone literate during the Middle Ages believed in a spherical Earth.

So, how did we transition from a wealth of scholarly works affirming the Earth’s roundness to the flat-earth myth?

The Birth of the Flat Earth Myth: A 19th-Century Fabrication

Washington Irving, an American author, published Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus in 1828, which romanticized Columbus’ journey. His narrative depicted Columbus as a heroic figure who challenged the notion of a flat Earth, despite the fact that skeptics in Spain never held such a meeting with Columbus.

Many prominent thinkers in the 19th century mistakenly accepted Irving’s fictional account as credible scholarship. Why did this happen? The late 18th and early 19th centuries saw significant shifts in societal beliefs, with new scientific theories challenging established religious doctrines.

In his 1834 work, On the Cosmographical Ideas of the Church Fathers, Jean Antoine Letronne accused the Church of supporting the flat-earth theory. Similarly, historian William Draper placed blame on the Church in his 1874 book, History of the Conflict between Religion and Science.

These assertions were often based on Irving’s romanticized account of Columbus rather than factual evidence. The motivations behind promoting the flat-earth myth seemed to be rooted in anti-religious sentiment rather than a quest for truth.

As Charles Darwin's theory of evolution gained prominence, one can speculate that these scholars’ motivations were influenced by broader societal conflicts. However, this does not excuse the fabrication of a serious historical inaccuracy. It is unfortunate that notable thinkers of the 19th century perpetuated a myth that contradicted the truth.

Though the myth was debunked in academic circles in the early 20th century, it remained popular in mainstream culture and educational settings. Earlier editions of Thomas Bailey’s American Pageant, a widely used history textbook, claimed that "superstitious sailors grew increasingly mutinous because they feared sailing over the edge of the world," referencing Columbus’ crew. This narrative lacks any historical basis.

Is the myth of a flat Earth in the Middle Ages finally laid to rest? Even prominent figures, like former US President Barack Obama, have drawn parallels between climate change skeptics and flat-earth believers, illustrating how deeply rooted this misconception remains.

Like my friend Dev, many continue to vilify medieval individuals for a belief they never held. While the study of history is often clouded by biases, it’s essential to challenge and correct widespread myths. The flat-earth myth stands as a prime example that must be dispelled in our information age.

If you enjoy uncovering misconceptions about the Middle Ages, check out the following video for further insights.

The first video provides a critical examination of the flat-earth theory during the Middle Ages and its modern implications.

The second video explores whether medieval individuals genuinely believed in a flat Earth, challenging common misconceptions.