As a stickler for historical accuracy, I’d like to state that most EDUCATED people of Columbus’ time believed (or knew, really) that the world is a sphere. Otherwise Columbus could never have secured backing for his expedition.

When I was in the 7th grade this lady who was a full-time phys ed teacher and a part-time history teacher told the class in all authority, “Columbus sailed to prove the world was round!” I raised my hand and said, “Um, actually, he sailed because he wanted to get rich and famous.”