library of salamanca

    Caption: The old library of the University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.

    Here maybe---but probably not---Christopher Columbus (1451--1506) met the professors to debate his proposed voyage (see Wikipedia: University of Salamanca: History).

    He didn't have to convince them that the Earth was round: they already knew that---it had been established theory in western Eurasia (among the intellectual elite at least) since Greco-Roman antiquity (see Wikipedia: Spherical Earth theory).

      In fact, the professors had globe right in front of them as you can see.

    Columbus had to convince the professors that a voyage of practical length could reach China or India. The professors said he was wrong and they were right. They knew their ancient Greek astronomy.

    And Columbus never did get to China or India.

    It just goes to show you should always listen to your professors, right?

    Credit/Permission: © Antoine Taveneaux (AKA User:Antoinetav), before or circa 2012 / Creative Commons CC BY-SA 2.0.
    Image link: Wikimedia Commons: File:Old Library in University of Salamanca 01.jpg.
    Local file: local link: salamanca_columbus.html.
    File: Art_s file: salamanca_columbus.html.