x CONTENTS 



CHAPTER V 



BION AND THE DOCTRINE OF A ROUND EARTH 



PAGE 



The earliest recorded geometrical demonstration of the earth's shape 



How he proved it The mechanism of night and day . .61 



CHAPTER VI 



ERATOSTHENES AND THE EARLIEST MEASURES OF 

 THE EARTH 



The earliest accurate measure of the circumference of the earth in 

 Alexandria, B.C. 275 The simplicity of his method Subse- 

 quent confirmation . . . . . 71 



CHAPTER VII 



ARISTARCHUS AND THE DISTANCE AND GRANDEUR 

 OF THE SUN 



The simple method by which he calculated that the sun was 300 

 times the volume of the earth Other calculations of the 

 ancients The littleness of the earth was early recognised . 83 



CHAPTER VIII 



THE TURNING OF THE EARTH : THE FIXITY OF THE SKY 



The teachings of Pythagoras, Philolaus, and others, as to the motion 



of the earth on its axis Their mode of proof . . .97 



CHAPTER IX 



THE FLYING EARTH : THE FIXITY OF THE SUN 



The Coppernican system 2000 years before Coppernicus It is in 

 reality the system of Aristarchus of Alexandria How he 

 reached it Why it failed of acceptance . . .109 



