14 Questions
What was the purpose of the Pyramid built by the Maya civilization?
To create the appearance of a diamond-back snake
What is a calendar?
A way of showing days, organized into a schedule of larger units of time
What did ancient people do when something unusual happened in the sky?
They did something to please the gods and restore order to the sky
What is the role of celestial priests and priestesses?
To study celestial objects
Who were the first astronomers to keep detailed records of the sky?
The Mesopotamians
What determines the number of days in a year?
The revolution of the Earth around the Sun
What is the term for the turning of an object around an imaginary axis running through it?
Rotation
What was used to tell the time of day in ancient times?
The shadow of a stick or pillar
What was the initial understanding of the Earth's shape by ancient cultures?
Flat
Which ancient civilization believed the Earth was a square surrounded by a huge ocean?
Chinese
What was the primary reason ancient Greeks like Eratosthenes and Aristarchus believed the Earth was spherical?
Observation of the Earth's shadow during a lunar eclipse
What was the third piece of evidence that led Eratosthenes and Aristarchus to conclude the Earth was spherical?
The shape of the Earth's shadow during a lunar eclipse
What did ancient Greeks like Eratosthenes and Aristarchus use to calculate the Earth's relative size?
The Earth's shadow during a lunar eclipse
What was the original understanding of the Earth's shape by ancient Greeks?
The Earth floated in the ocean
Study Notes
Maya Civilization and Astronomy
- The Maya civilization built a pyramid in Mexico's Yucatan region around 1000 years ago, designed to resemble a diamond-back snake on the first day of spring and fall.
- The pyramid's 91 steps and top platform add up to 365, representing the number of days in a year.
Early Calendars and Astronomy
- A calendar is a system of organizing days into larger units of time, often displayed in a table or chart.
- Early ancestors observed the sky and believed that unusual events required actions to please the gods and restore order.
Celestial Objects and Priests
- Celestial objects include planets, stars, and moons, which were studied by celestial priests and priestesses.
- The Mesopotamians were the first astronomers to make detailed astronomical observations, recording the sky as early as 6000 years ago.
Time and Rotation
- Our year is determined by the time it takes the sun to return to the same place in the sky, which is 365.25 days.
- A leap year occurs when the accumulation of quarter days forms a full day.
- Rotation is the turning of an object around an imaginary axis, such as the Earth rotating on its axis.
Early Timekeeping
- Early clocks used pillars and sticks to tell time by observing shadows.
- As cultures progressed, sundials replaced the early stick "clocks."
Ancient Beliefs about the Earth
- The ancient Egyptians, Inuits, and Chinese held flat Earth theories, with varied models of the Earth's shape and position.
- Ancient Greeks Eratosthenes and Aristarchus hypothesized that the Earth is spherical, using three pieces of evidence:
- Ships disappearing below the horizon
- Changing appearance of the sky and stars with latitude
- The curved shape of the Earth's shadow during a lunar eclipse
Learn about the ancient Mayan Pyramid of Kukulkan, its unique architecture and its connection to the calendar system. Discover the significance of the pyramid's design and its representation of the year.
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