The Flat Earth Theory has been a topic of debate and fascination for centuries. While it may be hard to say how many people believe in it today, there is no denying the fact that its community and following seem to have resilient staying power. In this episode, we'll be taking a deep dive into the history of the Flat Earth Theory, from its origins hundreds of years ago to the first ideas brought forward by Samuel Rowbotham in the mid 1800s.
Belief in a flat Earth is not a new one. In fact, it was the dominant belief held by many ancient cultures, including the Greeks, Egyptians, and Chinese. It wasn't until the 4th century BC that Greek philosopher Pythagoras proposed the idea that the Earth was actually a sphere, based on his observations of lunar eclipses. This theory was later expanded upon by Aristotle, who used observations of the stars to provide evidence for a spherical Earth.
However, despite the overwhelming evidence for a round Earth, the belief in a flat Earth persisted among some individuals and groups throughout history. One such group was the Christian church, which interpreted certain passages in the Bible to suggest a flat Earth. This belief was eventually refuted by scholars and scientists, but the idea of a flat Earth continued to crop up over the centuries.
Fast forward to the mid 1800s, when Samuel Rowbotham, a British inventor and writer, put forth the idea of a flat Earth in his book "Zetetic Astronomy". Rowbotham believed that the Earth was a flat disc with the North Pole at the center and the continents spread out around it. He argued that the Earth was not rotating or orbiting the sun, but was instead stationary.
Rowbotham's ideas gained a following, and the Flat Earth Society was founded in the late 1800s to promote his theories. However, the scientific community widely rejected the Flat Earth Theory, and it fell out of mainstream attention for much of the 20th century.
So, what are some of the basic concepts of Flat Earth Theory, and do they hold any weight?
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