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Astronomy in Ancient Civilizations

Unit 1: Astronomical Observations

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Astronomy vs Astrology

Astronomy is the study of the universe and its contents outside of Earth’s atmosphere. Astronomers examine the positions, motions, and properties of celestial objects. 

Astrology attempts to study how those positions, motions, and properties affect people and events on Earth.

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Astronomy vs Astrology

For several millennia, the desire to improve astrological predictions was one of the main motivations for astronomical observations and theories.

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Astronomy Impacted Ancient Civilizations

The major driving force in ancient astronomy studies was SURVIVAL

  • When will rainy/dry season come?
  • When should crops be planted/ harvested?
  • Navigation

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Egyptians

  • Huge temples and pyramids were built to have a certain astronomical orientation (ex. Giza towards the North Star)
  • Egyptian astronomers (priests) recognized that the Nile River flooded at the summer solstice, which allowed them to predict the flooding

Astronomy Impacted Ancient Civilizations

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Astronomy Impacted Ancient Civilizations

Mayans

  • The Maya were extraordinarily good astronomers - making observations and recording the motion of the Sun, the Moon, and the stars
  • Prior to 36 B.C., they had developed a 360-day year to produce a very accurate calendar and measuring long intervals of time

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Astronomy Impacted Ancient Civilizations

Aztecs

  • The Aztec Calendar contains two independent systems:
    1. The 365 days calendar: describes the days and rituals related to the seasons, probably used for agriculture
    2. The 260 day calendar: divided up the days to be dedicated to different gods

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Astronomy Impacted Ancient Civilizations

Chinese

  • Created the oldest known preserved star map (dated before 700 AD) and one of the oldest and most detailed catalogs of stars

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Astronomy Impacted Ancient Civilizations

Native Americans

  • The Big Horn Medicine Wheel in Wyoming is similar to Stonehenge in design
    • It was built by the Plains Indians
    • Its spokes align roughly with solstices and equinoxes

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Additional Research

  • On your own or with a partner, choose an ancient civilization from the list
  • Fill in ONE sheet of paper with details about how that civilization learned about or utilized astronomy. Be sure to look for:
    • Time
    • Agriculture
    • Folklore

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Culture Choices – no repeats – sign up with your teacher

  • Native North American
  • African
  • Egyptian
  • Islamic
  • Central and South American
  • Hawaiian, Polynesian, and Native Australian
  • Asian

Your research will be shared via a gallery walk the last 15 minutes of class on Friday

Research Resources