Continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on Earth's surface. This was the Continental Drift Theory. Continental drift is the hypothesis that the Earth's continents have moved over geologic time relative to each other, thus appearing to have "drifted" across the ocean bed. Wegener's continental drift hypothesis did not give an accurate estimate for the length of time involved in continent motion. Alfred Wegener first supported continental drift. Formation of Earth's continents from Pangaea to current day. The concept was independently developed by German geologist Alfred Wegener in 1912. Continental drift is a theory first presented by Abraham Ortelius (Abraham Ortels) in 1596. Theory Of Continental Drift And Plate Tectonics Review. The Continental Drift theory also states that only the continents (landmass) moved. Over a vast period of time, the continents drifted apart to their current locations. Set forth in 1912 by Alfred Wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also explained why look-alike animal and plant fossils, and similar rock formations, are found on different continents. In 1912, Alfred Wegener proposed a theory that the continents had once been joined, and over time had drifted apart. Wegener said that continents move around on Earth’s surface and that they were once joined together as a single supercontinent. How do plate tectonics and continental drift fit with the bibles history. According to the theory of continental drift, the world was made up of a single continent through most of geologic time.That continent eventually separated and drifted apart, forming into the seven continents we have today. The hypothesis asserts that the continents consist … Continental drift is a theory originally proposed by Alfred Wegener, who believed the continents were once one large continent known as Pangaea that later separated into several continents. The continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early 20th century, by Alfred Wegener, who said that continents moved on the Earth's surface until they came together as a single super continent.Continental drift is a theory that explains how continents manage to change position on the Earth's surface. The reaction to Alfred Wegener's theory tells us much about the workings of science. Wegener's continental drift hypothesis did not state that the continents were arranged into a supercontinent many millions of years ago. Alfred Wegener's Continental Drift Theory. Theory of Continental Drift The continental drift hypothesis was developed in the early part of the 20th century, mostly by Alfred Wegener. In 1915, the German geologist and meteorologist Alfred Wegener first proposed the theory of continental drift, which states that parts of the Earth's crust slowly drift atop a liquid core.The fossil record supports and gives credence to the theories of continental drift and plate tectonics. The speculation that continents might have 'drifted' was first put forward by Abraham Ortelius in 1596. The continental drift theory is the theory that once all the continents were joined in a super-continent, which scientists call Pangaea. The first comprehensive theory of continental drift was suggested by the German meteorologist Alfred Wegener in 1912. Continental Drift. They both similarly state that there was the giant supercontinent of Pangea.