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Astronomy of Ancient Cultures
| The science of archaeoastronomy combines the
fields of astronomy and archaeology with the goal of uncovering clues to the
importance of astronomy in ancient cultures. The pages below focus on a variety
of early civilizations, but regardless of their differences, it is apparent
that these cultures had one thing in common: astronomy was a backbone of their
social, political, and religious systems. Astronomy is considered to be the
most ancient science, although until recently it was not conducted as science
for curiosity's sake or for the furthering of human knowledge. Instead, the
study of the sky was a vital part of the theological foundation of early civilizations.
The sky's obvious effects on Earth led to the view of an intense connection
between celestial events and human affairs. The first question we must ask when
we begin to study archaeoastronomy is: why did the ancients bother? The most
obvious explanation derives from the fact that the sky is a dynamic and ever-changing
scene. Due to the changing positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, stars, and other
astronomical objects, astronomy probably began as a natural curiosity. Eventually,
over a few generations patterns were noted in the sky, and the people began
to assign a mythical value to certain patterns. The cyclical occurrence of the
Sun, constellations, and to a lesser extent the planets, gave the impression
of a cosmic order. Everyday observations, such as the rising and setting of
the Sun, and seasonal observations, such as the summer and winter solstices,
were carefully noted and often coincided with festivals. Astronomical events
like eclipses and supernovae were often hailed as religious signs. Archaeoastronomy
is a fascinating field which gives an immense insight into the mindsets of ancient
cultures. The reference page below contains a listing of some of the best books
and articles on the subject, as well as a list of interesting websites dealing
with archaeoastronomy. |
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| Mayan Astronomy |
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