Early Astronomy PDF

Early Astronomy ASTRONOMY AROUND THE WORLD 1. Ancient Babylonian, Assyrian, and Egyptian It is generally agreed that the discipline of astronomy began in the region of Mesopotamia, although there are scholars who argue it o...

Early Astronomy ASTRONOMY AROUND THE WORLD 1. Ancient Babylonian, Assyrian, and Egyptian It is generally agreed that the discipline of astronomy began in the region of Mesopotamia, although there are scholars who argue it originated in Egypt and other for ancient India. In Mesopotamia, it is thought that the Sumerians (the people and the native language of Ancient Sumer) developed astronomy with their invention of the Sexagesimal System, which is where 60 is the base number, which was then applied to calculating the hours of night and day and knew the approximate length of the year. This investigation then developed into inquiries about the movements of the stars and planets. The Sumerians charted the night sky in a 360-degree circle. They observed the movement of celestial bodies and used mathematical equations to predict when these would turn up in a certain region of the sky. The inventions and innovations of the Sumerians were adopted by other Mesopotamian cultures, and Babylon (the Ancient City of Mesopotamia) became famous for its astronomers and astrologers. Along with the Assyrian (Indigenous ethnic group native to Mesopotamia). Over years later, we still use some of the Sumerian's definitions today such as 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours per day, and the 360-degree circle. The evidence of Nabta Playa, a stone circle in Egypt has been interpreted as a prehistoric astronomical calendar, which is a main cause for the belief that the Egyptians were the first astronomers. The ancient Egyptians had also developed a 360-degree chart of the night sky and their astronomical knowledge can be attested by the alignment of the Pyramids of Giza, as well as temples and obelisks and their ability to predict the annual flooding of the Nile. 2. Ancient Chinese Astronomy Ancient China was known by its people as the “Middle Kingdom” for they believed themselves to be at the center of the world and the most detailed in the world. The ancient Chinese were deeply interested in the stars, planets, and celestial events like eclipses and comets. Hence, they developed a working calendar around the same time as the Egyptians and recorded comets, meteors, and sunspots that later recorded "guest stars" - faint stars that suddenly flare up, used today to study ancient star explosions. For the reason that they believed that the heavens were connected to the Earth and that changes in the sky could predict important events on Earth, especially those related to the emperor and the state. The Chinese were excellent record- keepers, meticulously noting down every celestial event they observed as they  were the first to compile comprehensive star catalogs and study the eclipses and the solar calendars. 3. Ancient Mayan Astronomy The Mayans are a people in Mexico and Central America who have extraordinary astronomical abilities. For the reason that they charted the heavens with precision their eyes keenly tuned to the rhythms of the cosmos. This celestial dance gives birth to the Mayan calendar, a testament to their advanced understanding of time and space. They are known as the “Keen Observers of the Stars” and are also the creators of a complex and accurate calendar system (A marvel of Ancient Astronomy and Mathematics). The Mayans painstakingly observed the movement of the sun, moon, stars, and planets accumulating data over generations. This data was used to create a calendar so precise that it rivals our modern-day calendar, but the calendar was not just a testament to Mayan scientific powers, it was deeply intertwined with their religion, agriculture, and daily life. These calendars helped them determine the best times for planting and harvesting crops, as well as for conducting religious ceremonies. Moreover, The Mayans were particularly fascinated by Venus, which they associated with the god Kukulkan who developed a sophisticated calendar based on Venus. They tracked Venus's cycle with incredible precision, using it to guide important events like wars or sacrifices. 4. Ancient Polynesian Navigation Ancient Polynesian navigation is a story of how the people of the Pacific Islands, like Hawaii, Tahiti, and New Zealand, managed to explore and settle vast ocean territories long before modern technology. These skilled navigators used a deep understanding of the natural world to find their way across the open sea, often traveling thousands of miles between small islands. They didn’t have compasses or maps like we do today. Instead, they relied on the stars, the sun, the moon, and even the ocean’s waves. At night, they used the stars as a map, knowing how different constellations would appear in the sky depending on their location. During the day, they observed the sun’s position to keep track of direction. But it wasn’t just about the sky. Polynesians also studied the ocean. They could feel the movement of the waves and knew which direction they were coming from, which helped them understand where they were to the land. They even watched the behavior of birds and clouds, which could indicate nearby islands. The Polynesians became some of the greatest explorers in history, spreading across the Pacific and creating a connected network of islands long before Europeans arrived. 5. Ancient British Astronomy The ancient Britons, long before the advent of modern science, looked up at the night sky with a deep sense of wonder and reverence. Though not as well-documented as the astronomy of the Egyptians or the Greeks, the early  inhabitants of Britain had their ways of observing and interpreting the movements of celestial bodies. Their understanding of the heavens was closely intertwined with their daily lives, religious practices, and the natural world around them. One of the most striking legacies of ancient British astronomy is the stone circles scattered across the landscape, the most famous being Stonehenge. They used stones to track the Sun and Moon motions before writing. These stone structures, often aligned with the movements of the Sun and the Moon, suggest that the early Britons were keen observers of the sky. Stonehenge, for example, is aligned with the solstices—the longest and shortest days of the year. On the summer solstice, the Sun rises directly above the Heel Stone, an event that still draws crowds today. Early Greek and Roman Cosmology Our concept of the cosmos—its basic structure and origin—is called cosmology, a word with Greek roots. Before the invention of telescopes, humans had to depend on simple evidence of their senses for a picture of the universe. The ancients developed cosmologies that combined their direct view of the heavens with a wide variety of philosophical and religious symbolism. At least 2000 years before Columbus, educated people in the eastern Mediterranean region knew the Earth was round. Belief in a spherical Earth may have stemmed from the time of Pythagoras, a philosopher and mathematician who lived 2500 years ago. He believed circles and spheres to be “perfect forms” and suggested that Earth should be a sphere. As evidence that the gods liked spheres, the Greeks cited the fact that the Moon is a sphere, using the evidence we describe later.