Astronomies and Cultures in Early Medieval Europe

This book provides an overview of the astronomical practices that continued through the so-called 'Dark Ages'.

Stephen C. McCluskey (Author)

9780521778527, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 20 November 2000

252 pages, 26 b/w illus. 4 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.38 kg

'McCluskey's survey provides a fine introduction to early medieval astronomy, astrology, and computus … This is not another 'progress of science' treatment of its topic. The book begins before the early Middle Ages, actually in prehistory with solar holizon calendars (perhaps Stonehenge) and in classical antiquity with stellar calendars.' Early Medieval Europe

Historians have long recognized that the rebirth of science in twelfth-century Europe flowed from a search for ancient scientific texts. But this search presupposes knowledge and interest; we only seek what we know to be valuable. The emergence of scholarly interest after centuries of apparent stagnation seems paradoxical. This book resolves that seeming contradiction by describing four active traditions of early medieval astronomy: one divided the year by observing the Sun; another computed the date of Easter Full Moon; the third determined the time for monastic prayers by watching the course of the stars; and the classical tradition of geometrical astronomy provided a framework for the cosmos. Most of these astronomies were practical; they sustained the communities in which they flourished and reflected and reinforced the values of those communities. These astronomical traditions motivated the search for ancient learning that led to the Scientific Renaissance of the twelfth century.

Illustrations
Abbreviations
Preface
Part I. The Environment for Medieval Astronomies: 1. Astronomies in cultures
2. The heritage of astronomical practice
3. Astronomy and Christian thought
Part II. The Cultivation of Early Medieval Astronomies: 4. Continuity and change in solar ritual
5. Computing the central time - the date of Easter
6. Observing the Celestial order - monastic timekeeping
7. Astronomy in the Liberal Arts
Part III. The Harvest of Medieval Astronomies: 8. The fusion of astronomical traditions
9. The encounter of Arabic and Latin astronomies
10. The rebirth of Ptolemaic astronomy
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Astronomy, space & time [PG]