Discuss how inaccuracies in the first calculation of Earth's circumference led to discovery of the ...

ANSWER: Eratosthenes of Cyrene was the second librarian at Alexandria and was the first to calculate the circumference of Earth. Though his calculation was fairly accurate it was still about 8
of the true value. Later, Ptolemy furthered the work of Eratosthenes and published an
estimate of the size of Earth that was too small - about 70 of the true value. This error,
coupled with his mistake of overestimating the size of Asia, greatly reduced the apparent
width of the unknown part of the world between the Orient and Europe. Columbus, 1500
years later, used these estimates of the size of Earth to convince people he could reach Asia
by sailing west. Columbus mistook the New World for India or Japan. He made three more
trips to the New World believing he had found Asia