Ancient Greeks and Egyptians knew full and well that the Earth

I'm confused, you're asking why, if most people thought the world was round, Columbus would accept simple geometric principles such as going west to circumnavigate to the east?

File: 1453192668416.gif (2MB, 230x250px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 230x250px

>>1113970
I... Just woke up okay? I had this nagging question that I could not explain, and I guess I now know why.

>>1113928
He underestimated the size of the earth which is why people opposed him. Even Isabella was sure he wouldn't return.

>>1113981
Consider Magellan, who's crew mostly died on his horrific circumnavigation voyage.

>>1113928
The world being round is exactly why Columbo thought his plan would work.

India is to the east, therefore since the world is round if we sail west we'll eventually hit India.

>>1113928
Folks reckoned the earth had a circumference of around 40.000 km (9% off from the real circumference). Columbus said it was like half that and that by sailing west he would reach India or the Spice Islands in a couple of weeks. If America wasn't there he would have had to sail for like 230 days on open sea without water restocking which means certain death.

>>1114115
FYI the Route to India by rounding Africa still took people close to a fucking year and they could restock supplies along the way, traveling for more than say six or seven weeks on open sea was not viable in the time of Columbus.

>>1114115
>>1113928
In fact the circumference was correctly calculated by Eratosthenes in 3BC at 40000 km but later on, Ptolemy in 2AD botched his own calculus at 33000 km. Unfortunately, Ptolemy became the new reference for geography, and Columbus followed him and not the old and correct circumference.

>>1113985
>Start:
5 ships, 237 men
>Finish
1 Ship. 18 Men.

>>1114129
>Eratosthenes

The first beta male.