Elsevier

Endeavour

Volume 24, Issue 4, 1 December 2000, Pages 157-164
Endeavour

Review
Diffusion of astronomy in the ancient world

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0160-9327(00)01327-2Get rights and content

Abstract

Astronomical techniques, calendars and devices were developed independently in many places around the world. However, there was much cross-cultural exchange of technology over the centuries. The cultures of Egypt, Greece, India and China influenced each others’ astronomy and each cannot be treated in isolation.

Section snippets

Ancient astronomy

Gradually, great centres of civilization were established in the ancient world. The best known, investigated in depth by archaeologists and historians, were located in the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, along the Nile, in Greece and Rome, in India, and in China. Each of these centres developed its own schools of astrology and astronomy, and its own catalogue of stars and star groups. Isolated cultures also saw patterns in star groups. The Greeks named the constellation Orion

Diffusion of knowledge

Clear documentary evidence relating to the diffusion of technology in the ancient world is scarce and perhaps this exchange of ideas was taken for granted. Deductions about the origin of ideas in astronomy have to be based on the similarities of systems and the changes effected at various times. The absence of direct information on scientific exchanges has led to some controversy, such as the view that Indian astronomy was dominated by repeated transmissions from Mesopotamia and Greece 19. A

Diffusion of hardware

Ancient astronomers had various recipes to predict the movements of stars and strange events such as eclipses A measure of time was derived from these recipes, supported by observations of the night sky. Instruments were then built to ascertain the positions of celestial objects, primarily to time religious observances. Along with the spread of theoretical models of the universe and explanations of observed celestial phenomena, the design of instruments for the measurement of the positions of

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