How did flat Earth conspiracy theory start?

Amber Minogue (0:03)

How did Flat Earth Conspiracy Theory start? Thanks for asking. Flat Earthers believe that the Earth is not spherical, but rather a flat disk, and the Sun and the Moon are also flat disks that circle above the Earth. According to them, the edges of the world are surrounded by a wall of ice, which is what we know as Antarctica. And as for the pictures of Earth from space, well, they're all fake, part of a huge conspiracy to hide the truth.

But how did this theory start? The earliest cultures that believed in a flat Earth were the ancient Egyptians, Babylonians and Greeks. They had different models that depicted the Earth as a flat surface, often supported by pillars or resting on a giant animal. But not all ancient Greeks shared this belief. Some of the most influential philosophers and mathematicians, such as Pythagoras, Plato and Aristotle, argued that the Earth was spherical, based on observations of the lunar phases, the seasons, the stars and the horizon. They even calculated the circumference of the Earth with remarkable accuracy. Why have people started to believe in this again? The flat Earth theory resurfaced in the modern era, thanks to the English writer Samuel Robottom, who claimed that he had conducted an experiment that proved the Earth was flat. He argued that if the Earth was curved, then a boat sailing away from an observer would disappear over the horizon. But he said he could still see the boat with the telescope even after it had sailed several miles away. He concluded that the Earth was a flat plane and that the curvature of the Earth was an optical illusion.

Robottom gained followers who called themselves zetertics, which means seekers of the truth. He found the Universal Zetertic Society in 1881, which later became the Flat Earth Society. They have published books, magazines, newsletters and websites to promote the Flat Earth Theory and claim to have more than 500 members worldwide. Some Flat Earthers have even tried to prove their theory by conducting their own experiments, such as launching rockets, flying in planes or sailing to the edge of the world. However, none of these experiments have been successful and some have even been dangerous or fatal. So why do some people still believe in the Flat Earth Theory despite all the evidence that contradicts it?

Well, there's no simple answer to this question. Some may be influenced by religious beliefs, some may be distrustful of authority figures, some may be attracted by the sense of community and identity, and some may simply enjoy the challenge of questioning the mainstream consensus. There you have it.

Now you know how the Flat Earth Conspiracy Theory started. In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along, and you really will know for sure.

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