About Aryabhata:
Birth: 476 AD (estimated in Pataliputra, Bihar)
Period: Famous astronomer and mathematician of the Gupta period
Book: Aryabhatiya
Area of contribution: Mathematics, Astronomy, Geography
Aryabhata's Contributions to Geography:
1. Shape of the Earth:
Claimed Earth is spherical: Aryabhatta was among the first Indian scholars to state that the Earth is round (spherical) and not flat, centuries before this was widely accepted in Europe.
2. Earth's Rotation:
He proposed that the Earth rotates on its axis daily, explaining the apparent movement of stars and the Sun, contrary to the then-prevailing belief that the sky moves around the Earth.
3. Day and Night Cycle:
Aryabhatta explained the phenomenon of day and night as a result of the Earth’s rotation.
4. Eclipses:
He gave scientific explanations for solar and lunar eclipses, refuting the mythological ideas. The reason behind solar and lunar eclipses is the shadow of the Earth and the Moon.
5. Estimation of Earth's Circumference:
Aryabhatta estimated the circumference of the Earth with remarkable accuracy for his time. He used mathematical principles to support his estimates.
6. Latitude and Longitude (Implicit Understanding):
Time difference explained based on longitude.
Summary:
Aryabhatta’s contributions provided a scientific basis for understanding several geographic and astronomical phenomena. His insights laid the foundation for later developments in astronomy and physical geography, both in India and globally
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