Question

Who was the first to determine the Earth's circumference?

• A. Ptolemy
• B. Eratosthenes
• C. Hipparchus
• D. Mercator

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Eratosthenes

Eratosthenes was the first to determine the circumference of the Earth based solely on the angle of sunlight. He calculated it as 250,000 stadia. A stadia is a unit used to measure distance. Eratosthenes was also the first to use the word "geography."