Eratosthenes and Pliny, Greek geometry and Roman follies

TL;DR

This paper compares Greek and Roman perspectives on Eratosthenes' Earth meridian calculation, highlighting how cultural attitudes influence scientific development and perception.

Contribution

It offers a historical analysis of Greek and Roman attitudes towards scientific achievements, emphasizing the impact of cultural support or neglect.

Findings

Greek support fostered scientific progress

Roman neglect led to primitive views

Cultural attitudes significantly influence scientific recognition

Abstract

Supportive attitudes can bring to a blossoming science, while neglect can quickly make science absent from everyday life and provide a very primitive view of the world. We compare one important Greek achievement, the computation of the Earth meridian by Eratosthenes, to its later interpretation by the Roman historian of science Pliny.