Ancient Astronomy and Civilization.
Series: History of astronomy series ; v. 6Tucson, Ariz. : Pachart Pub. House, c1987Description: 187 p. : ill. ; 23 cmContent type:- text
- unmediated
- volume
- 0881262250 (pbk.) :
- 520.93 19
- QB16 .H48 1987
Item type | Current library | Call number | Copy number | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
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NCAR Library CG | QB16 .H48 1987 | 1 | Available | 50583000304364 |
Includes bibliographies and index.
The book is meant for a wide range of students and scholars as a guide to pre-Greek and Greek astronomical and related theories. The initial chapters review Lockyer’s and others’ megalithic studies and describe the nature of mathematical functions appearing in Babylonian tablets. The rest is mostly filled with long translated excerpts from Greek and Roman writings beginning with the earliest surviving sources and ending with Simplicius. Expert commentaries are inserted, which cement the quotations into a systematic story. Close relationship between astronomy and mathematics is emphasized although mathematical symbolism comes forth only in the chapter “Of geometry and men” dealing with the form and size of the Earth. Many of the comments are intended to characterize the background civilization. Besides, the author states one of his goals to be to show interrelationships between the humanities and the sciences. Lots of film strips are recommended to complement the book, but their location is not disclosed.