Astronomies and Cultures in Early Medieval Europe - Hardcover

McCluskey, Stephen C.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521583616 ISBN 13: 9780521583619

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1998

Synopsis

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.

About this title

Book Description

This book provides an overview of the astronomical practices that continued through the so-called "Dark Ages." Like the astronomies of traditional societies, early medieval astronomies established a religious framework of sacred time and ritual calender; here Christian feasts tied to a pre-Christian ritual solar calender, the date of Easter tied to the Hebrew lunar calender; and the timing of monastic prayers in terms of the course of the stars. Coupled with the remnants of ancient geometrical astronomy, these provided the framework for the rebirth of astronomy with the rise of the medieval universities.

Review

"McCluskey gives an interesting and informative survey...this is an interesting volume, and a work of considerable expertise." R.N. Swanson, International Journal of the Classical Tradition

"This book presents strong theses, clearly explained and defended. Its view of astronomy (or 'astronomies') in early medieval Europe stakes out a large and previously ill-defined topic for interpretation and exposition. It invites and will surely receive responses with alternate interpretations--clear proof of its value." Bruce Eastwood, Isis

"...well-written....[Astronomies and Cultures in Early Medieval Europe] will be the standard treatment of European astronomy before the coming of Aristotle and Ptolemy for the foreseeable future." American Historical Review

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0521583616
• ISBN 13: 9780521583619
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 252