What percentage of the population lost their minds when they found out the world was no Flat?

Question

Approx. how many people went insane or is there any recorded record of that type of event.

Answer 1

I suppose that would depend on how many people had some sort of an important stake in the matter of the world's shape - something important riding on it, so to speak.
New ideas are most often resisted by those who have a vested interest of some sort in maintaining the "status quo" whether it's correct or not.
Considering the era in history we are talking about, I would suspect that the churches and various governments were the principal objectors. The average peasant struggling to maintain his meager existance probably couldn't have cared less if the world were flat, round or pyramid-shaped.

However, there is ample evidence that the roundness of the world was known well ahead of Columbus's time. You won't find it in your - or your kids' - history books, but it is there for those who are interested enough to look.
Check out Erich VonDaniken's references to the "Piri Reis" maps. Whether you ascribe to VonDaniken's theories or not, the existance - and confirmed age - of those maps IS an established FACT.
My fiance is currently reading a book called "AMERICA B C" or "AMERICA BEFORE CHRIST" (I don't recall which, and I don't have the book here to refer to) that talks about the various artifacts found right here in North America that predate Columbus by centuries - in some cases, even a millenia or more - that were NOT created by the American Indians. Celtic relics, Libyan relics, Egyption relics, Carthagenian relics, ALL have been found here - dated to as early as 500 BC and before!
The remains of Ancient Celtic mining operations have been found in New England.
Clearly, the idea of a round globe was known and probably religio/politically surpressed long before Columbus set sail. I have no doubt that those to whom the shape of the earth held any REAL importance knew the truth and were instrumental in hiding from the uninformed masses.
Consider how governments today manipulate various truths to suit their purposes. The only difference is that there was no mass media back then to make this heinous job easier.

Answer 2

There is no information on this. My bet is that no one lost their mind. Some probably refused to believe the discovery, though.

When Gallileo said the earth revolves around the sun rather than the other way around it got him in a whole heap of political and religious trouble.

Answer 3

1%

Answer 4

None, it's easy for ignorant people to just bury their heads in the sand.

Look at all the people today who still deny the evolution of species.