What individual stated first that the earth was flat?

His or her name has not been recorded. Undoubtedly most early people believed the earth was flat because that's how they perceived it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaximander

He is the first to have speculated the Earth is flat in writing, at least the writings we know about. He viewed the universe as a cylinder, with Earth being one end of the cylinder. By six hundred years later, around 4BC, few philosphers believed in the Flat Earth anymore.

The belief in a flat Earth was prevalent in many ancient civilizations, but it is difficult to attribute the idea to a specific individual. However, the ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras (c. 570 – c. 495 BCE) is often credited with being one of the earliest proponents of a spherical Earth. While Pythagoras did not explicitly state that the Earth was flat, his teachings and the work of his followers laid the foundation for the understanding of a round Earth.

To find this answer, you can start by conducting a general search on the internet using keywords such as "who first stated the earth was flat." This search will provide you with various sources and articles that discuss the topic in more detail. Look for information from credible sources such as history books, scholarly articles, or reputable educational websites to get accurate and well-supported information. Additionally, you can refer to resources that focus on ancient Greek philosophy and its impact on our understanding of the Earth's shape.