Questions tagged [geography]
20 questions
9
votes
1 answer
When was it discovered that the Earth wasn't round?
We know the Earth isn't a sphere: that is, the equatorial circumference isn't equal to the polar circumference. When (and how) was this discovered?
I can put a lower bound of around the 3rd century BC, when Greek astronomy showed that the Earth was…
Mark
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5
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2 answers
Did the coordinate system used by Eratosthenes influence the development of the Cartesian coordinate system?
The first coordinate system was used by Eratosthenes to locate things using 2 points. Did this influence the development of the Cartesian coordinate system in any way?
user14943
5
votes
1 answer
How many people knew that Earth is spherical in different ages?
For the umpteenth time, I'm reading in some book (no intention to pillory the authors here) that, say, 500 years ago people believed in a flat Earth, since, in the author's opinion, there is no apparent evidence of it being spherical. This is of…
DaG
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4
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1 answer
Circular reasoning in Eratosthenes's measurement of the Earth's circumference
I remember that I read, some time ago, that Erathostenes calculated the circumfernce of the Earth using the distance between Syene and Alexandria, calculated in turn by others starting from the circumference of the Earth.
To prove It, the author…
Lucio Tanzini
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4
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1 answer
What is the origin of the four cardinal directions (North, East, South, and West)?
Why are there four? I would guess it was fixed after the egocentric/"relative" directions (left, right, front, back). Or was it because human used to consider the ground as flat and 2-dimensional?
How are they defined? Wikipedia says their English…
Poland Spring
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Why is so much of modern mathematics rooted in Germany?
Whenever I read some Mathematic theories, I find it they are typically done by some people living in Germany. Eg: Riemann, Gauss, Moses Schoenfinkel etc. I want to know what Germany did to arise so many Mathematicians?
tryst with freedom
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