Question

Several events had combined to alter Western Europeans' ideas about the earth by the 18th century. What did these include?

a. the circumnavigation of the globe
b. the discovery of the New World
c. the rise of the notion of a sun-centered universe
d. all of these
e. A and B only

Answer 1

Western Europeans’ ideas about Earth changed dramatically by the 18th century due to the circumnavigation of the globe, discovery of the New World, and the rise of the heliocentric model, leading to the correct answer of 'all of these'.

Step-by-step explanation:

Several events have indeed altered Western Europeans' ideas about the earth by the 18th century. These include a. the circumnavigation of the globe, b. the discovery of the New World, and c. the rise of the notion of a sun-centered universe. Each of these historical milestones contributed to a profound shift in human understanding. The circumnavigation of the globe provided tangible evidence that the Earth was round and not flat, challenging long-held beliefs.

The discovery of the New World by Columbus and others expanded European horizons and led to the realization that there were entire continents previously unknown to Eurasian civilizations. Lastly, the Copernican heliocentric model which posited that the Earth and other planets orbit the sun, overthrew the geocentric model that had placed Earth at the center of the universe. Thus, the correct answer to the question would be d. all of these.