This book describes in detail the various theories on the shape of
the Earth from classical antiquity to the present day and examines
how measurements of its form and dimensions have evolved throughout
this period. The origins of the notion of the sphericity of the
Earth are explained, dating back to Eratosthenes and beyond, and
detailed attention is paid to the struggle to establish key
discoveries as part of the cultural heritage of humanity. In this
context, the roles played by the Catholic Church and the
philosophers of the Middle Ages are scrutinized. Later
contributions by such luminaries as Richer, Newton, Clairaut,
Maupertuis, and Delambre are thoroughly reviewed, with exploration
of the importance of mathematics in their geodetic enterprises. The
culmination of progress in scientific research is the recognition
that the reference figure is not a sphere but rather a geoid and
that the earth's shape is oblate. Today, satellite geodesy permits
the solution of geodetic problems by means of precise measurements.
Narrating this fascinating story from the very beginning not only
casts light on our emerging understanding of the figure of the
Earth but also offers profound insights into the broader evolution
of human thought.
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