Beginner’s Guide to the Flat Earth

The History of Flat Earth Belief

For centuries, human civilizations described the world as a vast, unmoving plane beneath the heavens. This view was not based on superstition but on direct observation, navigation, and practical experience. The history of Flat Earth belief spans thousands of years, from ancient cultures to modern-day researchers who challenge the prevailing heliocentric model.

Ancient Flat Earth Cosmologies

  • Mesopotamians and the Babylonian Model – The earliest known cosmological models, such as those from Sumer, Babylon, and Assyria, depicted a domed firmament over a stationary Earth. These civilizations believed the Earth was a disc floating on waters, covered by a solid sky where celestial bodies moved in predictable patterns.

  • Egyptian Conceptions – The ancient Egyptians visualized the world as a flat expanse with the sky goddess Nut arching over the land. Their temples and pyramids were aligned with celestial movements, reinforcing their understanding of a fixed Earth beneath the heavens.

  • Hebrew and Biblical Descriptions – The Old Testament describes the Earth as immovable, set upon pillars, with a firmament above separating the waters above from the waters below. Verses in Genesis, Job, and Psalms reference a fixed world, which early Christian scholars took literally.

  • Indian and Buddhist Views – Ancient Hindu texts describe the Earth as a vast, stationary plane with Mount Meru at the center. Buddhist cosmology similarly presents a layered, concentric world with different realms, all resting on a stable foundation.

The Classical Era and the Challenge to Flat Earth

  • Greek Philosophers and the Shift to the Sphere – While early Greek thinkers like Anaximander proposed a flat, cylindrical Earth, later philosophers such as Pythagoras and Plato promoted the spherical model, based more on abstract reasoning than direct observation.

  • Eratosthenes and the Alleged Measurement of the Earth – The famous "stick and shadow" experiment attributed to Eratosthenes is often cited as proof of a spherical Earth, but modern Flat Earthers challenge its assumptions, arguing that it can also be explained by a local sun moving over a flat plane.

  • Roman and Medieval Views – Despite the rise of spherical Earth theories in academia, the common people of medieval Europe largely retained the view of a fixed, level Earth, as reflected in maps and religious teachings.

Flat Earth Resistance During the Scientific Revolution

  • Copernicus and the Heliocentric Model – In the 16th century, Nicolaus Copernicus proposed a sun-centered model, challenging the long-standing geocentric system. His ideas gained traction despite lacking direct proof of Earth's motion.

  • Galileo, Kepler, and Newton – The 17th century saw increased promotion of the heliocentric model through mathematical formulations rather than experimental proof. Newton’s theory of gravity sought to explain how people could stay on a spinning ball, though critics argue that gravity remains a theoretical concept rather than an observed force.

  • Early Flat Earth Advocates – In response to heliocentrism, figures like Samuel Rowbotham in the 19th century conducted experiments supporting the Flat Earth model, such as the Bedford Level experiment, which failed to show the expected curvature over a long water surface.

The 19th and 20th Century Flat Earth Revival

  • Zetetic Astronomy and the Bedford Level Experiment – Samuel Rowbotham's book Earth Not a Globe (1865) laid the foundation for modern Flat Earth thought, emphasizing empirical observation over theoretical physics.

  • The Universal Zetetic Society – Founded in the late 19th century, this group promoted Rowbotham’s ideas and challenged mainstream astronomy.

  • NASA and the Space Age Deception – The 20th century saw the rise of space exploration, yet many suspect that images of Earth from space have been manipulated. The Moon landing and subsequent space missions raised further skepticism among those who believe space agencies fabricate evidence to support the globe model.

The Modern Flat Earth Movement

  • The Internet and the Rebirth of Flat Earth – With the rise of online platforms, Flat Earth researchers from around the world have connected, sharing evidence and questioning mainstream narratives.

  • Experiments and Observations – Laser tests over lakes, long-distance photography, and gyroscope measurements have failed to confirm the expected curvature and motion of the Earth.

  • Growing Community and Outreach – Conferences, documentaries, and social media have brought Flat Earth into mainstream discussions, despite heavy censorship and ridicule from institutions that promote heliocentrism.

The Flat Earth belief has persisted for thousands of years, resurfacing with new evidence and renewed interest in the modern age. The more people investigate for themselves, the more they begin to see through the deceptions surrounding the globe model. If you're new to Flat Earth, this is the best place to start. We break down the fundamental concepts in a way that's easy to understand, tackling the biggest questions newcomers have. From the lack of observable curvature to the problems with the heliocentric model, this guide provides a solid foundation to help you see the world differently.

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