Answer to Question #192224 in Physical geography for Isaac larbi

Question

Examine the ideas of Greek philosophers on the shape and size of the earth during the classical times

Answer 1

The ideas if Greek philosophers were not very diverse during the classical times. They were mostly interested by the position of other celestial bodies around the Earth rather than the shape and size of our planet. Mostly they thought that the Earth has shape similar to spherical with no considerations about its size.

However, Eratosthenes was the one who measured the size of the Earth and obtained results that can be considered quite precise today. He concluded that the earth is a sphere and its radius is below 7000 km.