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The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy

Front Cover
2 Reviews
Oxford University Press, Oct 1, 1998 - History - 480 pages
The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy combines new scholarship with hands-on science to bring readers into direct contact with the work of ancient astronomers. While tracing ideas from ancient Babylon to sixteenth-century Europe, the book places its greatest emphasis on the Greek period, when astronomers developed the geometric and philosophical ideas that have determined the subsequent character of Western astronomy. The author approaches this history through the concrete details of ancient astronomical practice. Carefully organized and generously illustrated, the book can teach readers how to do real astronomy using the methods of ancient astronomers. For example, readers will learn to predict the next retrograde motion of Jupiter using either the arithmetical methods of the Babylonians or the geometric methods of Ptolemy. They will learn how to use an astrolabe and how to design sundials using Greek and Roman techniques. The book also contains supplementary exercises and patterns for making some working astronomical instruments, including an astrolabe and an equatorium. More than a presentation of astronomical methods, the book provides a critical look at the evidence used to reconstruct ancient astronomy. It includes extensive excerpts from ancient texts, meticulous documentation, and lively discussions of the role of astronomy in the various cultures. Accessible to a wide audience, this book will appeal to anyone interested in how our understanding of our place in the universe has changed and developed, from ancient times through the Renaissance.
  

What people are saying - Write a review

Review: The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy

User Review  - Tommy - Goodreads

I liked it. Got a little math heavy at times for me, but I enjoyed learning how to understand the sky with just my eyes and simple instruments. I'd recommend. Read full review

Review: The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy

User Review  - Charles - Goodreads

A one of a kind book, the Manuel to practicing historical science, I love to work through this book. Read full review

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Selected pages

Contents

The Celestial Sphere
75
THREE
130
FOUR
163
FIVE
205
SEVEN
282
Patterns for Models
445
Notes
453
Bibliography
465
Index
473
Copyright

Common terms and phrases

Alexandria Almagest altitude ancient angle angular apogee Arabic Aristarchus Aristotle armillary sphere astrolabe axis Babylonian Brahe calculation celestial sphere column constellations Copernicus Copernicus's cosmology cosmos cycle deferent circle diameter distance eccentricity ecliptic epicycle epicyclic anomaly equant equant point equation of center equatorium equinoctial equinox Eudoxus example figure Geminus globe gnomon Greek astronomy Gregorian Hipparchus Hipparchus's horizon Julian calendar Julian day Julian day number Jupiter Kepler latitude length Mars mathematical mean longitude mean Sun measured medieval Mercury meridian method month Moon Moon's morning rising moves MUL.APIN noon obliquity observations opposition orbit parallax parapegma Phenomena planetary theory position precession Ptolemy Ptolemy's radius retrograde arcs retrograde motion risings and settings rotation Saturn seasonal hours second century B.C. signs solar theory Spica summer solstice Sun's sundial superior planets synodic arc synodic periods Thabit's Theon of Smyrna translation tropical Venus visible winter solstice zodiac

References to this book

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References from web pages

Endeavour : The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy by James ...
The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy by James Evans. Robert Hannah Available online 7 September 2000. Author Keywords: Astronomy; Ptolemy; ...
linkinghub.elsevier.com/ retrieve/ pii/ S0160932700012771

JSTOR: The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy
The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy. Benno van Dalen. Isis, Vol. 91, No. 3, 580-581. Sep., 2000. James Evans. The History and Practice of An- ...
links.jstor.org/ sici?sici=0021-1753(200009)91%3A3%3C580%3ATHAPOA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-L

Oxford University Press: The History and Practice of Ancient ...
"The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy is one of the most exciting and original books ever written on ancient, as well as medieval and Renaissance, ...
www.us.oup.com/ us/ catalog/ 24986/ subject/ GeneralScience/ ~~/ dmlldz11c2EmY2k9OTc4MDE5NTA5NTM5NQ==

History of astronomy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
... CS 279 Ashgate 2002 ISBN 0-86078-868-7; Evans, James (1998), The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0195095391 . ...
en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ History_of_astronomy

James Evans
PHYS 299 The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy STS 201 Introduction to Science, Technology and Society I (Antiquity to 1800) ...
www2.ups.edu/ physics/ faculty/ evans/

Powell's Books - The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy by ...
A study of the Western astronomical tradition from ancient Babylonia to the European Renaissance, with emphasis on the Greek period
www.powells.com/ biblio/ 7-9780195095395-0

History of science in early cultures: Information and Much More ...
The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. Lindberg, David C. The Beginnings of Western Science: The European ...
www.answers.com/ topic/ history-of-science-in-early-cultures

The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy - Boek - BESLIST.nl
Bekijk en vergelijk informatie, beoordelingen, vragen & antwoorden en de beste winkels voor 'The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy' op BESLIST.nl ...
boeken_engels.beslist.nl/ boeken_engels/ d0001201664/ The_History_and_Practice_of_Ancient_Astronomy.html

Chicago Journals - Isis
Book Review. The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy James Evans. Isis. Sponsored by the History of Science Society. Search Journal ...
www.journals.uchicago.edu/ cgi-bin/ resolve?id=doi:10.1086/ 384878

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6098793.post-116579192303280304 2006-12 ...
... 2006-12-10T13:05:30.013-10:00 New Books in Hilo The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy<br />James Evans<br />QB 16 .E93 1998 <br /><br />Atlas of ...
www.blogger.com/ feeds/ 6098793/ posts/ default/ 116579192303280304

About the author (1998)

James Evans is at University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington.

Bibliographic information

QR code for The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy
TitleThe History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy
AuthorJames Evans
Editionillustrated
PublisherOxford University Press, 1998
ISBN0195095391, 9780195095395
Length480 pages
Subjects ›  › 

History / Ancient / General
Science / Astronomy
Science / History
  
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