Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #373939 in Books
• Published on: 2000-11-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 252 pages

Review
‘ … an interesting read not only to those with an interest in early medieval astronomy, but also to readers with a more general interest in the history of this period … Moreover, the copious footnotes make this book a useful source of reference …’. John Steele, Astronomy Now

‘ … very interesting for all those interested in the history and the development of science and especially astronomy in Europe in the very early stages.’ Review of Astronomical Tools

‘Besides providing a novel view of early-medieval astronomical knowledge in the Latin West, McCluskey furnishes a highly successful example of an approach that integrates the history of scientific knowledge with cultural history … McCluskey’s study ought to serve as an inspiring exemplar for charting the history of other sorts of scientific knowledge and in other periods.’ P. M. Rattansi, The Times Higher Education Supplement

'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

Customer Reviews

This book fills a gap in the history of astronomy.
This book fills a significant gap in the history of astronomy which most previous books have neglected. It covers astronomy in W. Europe in the period after the collapse of the Roman Empire to the 12cent. when Greek geometrical astronomy was introduced via translations from Arabic.

McClusky makes a case for the survival of pagan calendars and festivals surving in the guise of Christian holy days, particularly those occuring on solstices which required astronomical knowledge to determine. Alongside this trafitional folk astronomy the Western Church developed the discipline of 'Computus'- which used simple mathematical techniques to determine the date of Easter. Foremost among the 'Computists' was the Venerable Bede of Jarrow (673-735). There was also some non-technical knowledge of Greek astronomy through Latin writers such as Cicero, Macrobius, Martianus Capella and Boethius. This existing base of knowledge provided a receptive atmosphere for the astrolabes and Arabic astronomical works which arrived in W. Europe through Spain the 11/12cents.

McClusky makes effective use of a wide range of sources, bringing many obscure works to our attention. Some basic knowledge of astronomy will help the reader appreciate this book. The treatment of the subject is historical rather than mathematical. The flow of the book is spoilt by too many footnotes, often only citing works mentioned previously. On the whole this is a very useful survey of a neglected period in astronomical history. It will be apreciated by historians of astronomy, but also by those interested in the history of science, the church and in the transfer of ideas across cultures.