Calendars and Years

Calendars and Years

Author: John M. Steele

Publisher: Oxbow Books

Published: 2007-10-08

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 1782974938

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Dates form the backbone of written history. But where do these dates come from? Many different calendars were used in the ancient world. Some of these calendars were based upon observations or calculations of regular astronomical phenomena, such as the first sighting of the new moon crescent that defined the beginning of the month in many calendars, while others incorporated schematic simplifications of these phenomena, such as the 360-day year used in early Mesopotamian administrative practices in order to simplify accounting procedures. Historians frequently use handbooks and tables for converting dates in ancient calendars into the familiar BC/AD calendar that we use today. But very few historians understand how these tables have come about, or what assumptions have been made in their construction. The seven papers in this volume provide an answer to the question what do we know about the operation of calendars in the ancient world, and just as importantly how do we know it? Topics covered include the ancient and modern history of the Egyptian 365-day calendar, astronomical and administrative calendars in ancient Mesopotamia, and the development of astronomical calendars in ancient Greece. This book will be of interest to ancient historians, historians of science, astronomers who use early astronomical records, and anyone with an interest in calendars and their development.


Book Synopsis Calendars and Years by : John M. Steele

Download or read book Calendars and Years written by John M. Steele and published by Oxbow Books. This book was released on 2007-10-08 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dates form the backbone of written history. But where do these dates come from? Many different calendars were used in the ancient world. Some of these calendars were based upon observations or calculations of regular astronomical phenomena, such as the first sighting of the new moon crescent that defined the beginning of the month in many calendars, while others incorporated schematic simplifications of these phenomena, such as the 360-day year used in early Mesopotamian administrative practices in order to simplify accounting procedures. Historians frequently use handbooks and tables for converting dates in ancient calendars into the familiar BC/AD calendar that we use today. But very few historians understand how these tables have come about, or what assumptions have been made in their construction. The seven papers in this volume provide an answer to the question what do we know about the operation of calendars in the ancient world, and just as importantly how do we know it? Topics covered include the ancient and modern history of the Egyptian 365-day calendar, astronomical and administrative calendars in ancient Mesopotamia, and the development of astronomical calendars in ancient Greece. This book will be of interest to ancient historians, historians of science, astronomers who use early astronomical records, and anyone with an interest in calendars and their development.

The Story of Clocks and Calendars

The Story of Clocks and Calendars

Author: Betsy Maestro

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published: 2004-11-02

Total Pages: 52

ISBN-13: 0060589450

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Travel through time with the maestros as they explore the amazing history of timekeeping! Did you know that there is more than one calendar? While the most commonly used calendar was on the year 2000, the Jewish calendar said it was the year 5760, while the Muslim calendar said 1420 and the Chinese calendar said 4698. Why do these differences exist? How did ancient civilizations keep track of time? When and how were clocks first invented? Find answers to all these questions and more in this incredible trip through history.


Book Synopsis The Story of Clocks and Calendars by : Betsy Maestro

Download or read book The Story of Clocks and Calendars written by Betsy Maestro and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2004-11-02 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Travel through time with the maestros as they explore the amazing history of timekeeping! Did you know that there is more than one calendar? While the most commonly used calendar was on the year 2000, the Jewish calendar said it was the year 5760, while the Muslim calendar said 1420 and the Chinese calendar said 4698. Why do these differences exist? How did ancient civilizations keep track of time? When and how were clocks first invented? Find answers to all these questions and more in this incredible trip through history.

The Mayan and Other Ancient Calendars

The Mayan and Other Ancient Calendars

Author: Geoff Stray

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2007-11-06

Total Pages: 68

ISBN-13: 0802716342

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The only small, popular book on the important subject of ancient calendars. The study of heavenly cycles is common to most ancient cultures. The ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Babylonians all tried to make sense of the year. But it fell to the later Mesoamerican Maya to create a series of calendars that could be cross referenced. In doing so, the Maya discovered many strange numerical harmonics. Their lunar calendar was extremely accurate-far more so than the Greek Metonic cycle; they tracked Venus to an accuracy of less than a day in five hundred years and their tables could have been used to predict eclipses seven hundred years in the future. This book will provide a much needed compact guide to the Mayan calendar systems as well as covering the essentials of calendar development throughout the world.


Book Synopsis The Mayan and Other Ancient Calendars by : Geoff Stray

Download or read book The Mayan and Other Ancient Calendars written by Geoff Stray and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2007-11-06 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The only small, popular book on the important subject of ancient calendars. The study of heavenly cycles is common to most ancient cultures. The ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Babylonians all tried to make sense of the year. But it fell to the later Mesoamerican Maya to create a series of calendars that could be cross referenced. In doing so, the Maya discovered many strange numerical harmonics. Their lunar calendar was extremely accurate-far more so than the Greek Metonic cycle; they tracked Venus to an accuracy of less than a day in five hundred years and their tables could have been used to predict eclipses seven hundred years in the future. This book will provide a much needed compact guide to the Mayan calendar systems as well as covering the essentials of calendar development throughout the world.

The Time Book

The Time Book

Author: Martin Jenkins

Publisher:

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781406323733

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What is time? When did we first use it? Does it always work? How do animals tell time? A fun and fascinating look at time from the first calendars and clocks to the digital watches and precise time-keeping methods of today.


Book Synopsis The Time Book by : Martin Jenkins

Download or read book The Time Book written by Martin Jenkins and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What is time? When did we first use it? Does it always work? How do animals tell time? A fun and fascinating look at time from the first calendars and clocks to the digital watches and precise time-keeping methods of today.

It's About Time

It's About Time

Author: Liz Evers

Publisher: Michael O'Mara

Published: 2013-08-25

Total Pages: 173

ISBN-13: 1782430873

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With time-related anecdotes, quotes and trivia, this is an essential handbook for anyone fascinated by the fourth dimension.


Book Synopsis It's About Time by : Liz Evers

Download or read book It's About Time written by Liz Evers and published by Michael O'Mara. This book was released on 2013-08-25 with total page 173 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With time-related anecdotes, quotes and trivia, this is an essential handbook for anyone fascinated by the fourth dimension.

Calendars in Antiquity

Calendars in Antiquity

Author: Sacha Stern

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2012-09-06

Total Pages: 468

ISBN-13: 0199589445

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Calendars were at the heart of ancient culture and society and were far more than just technical, time-keeping devices. Calendars in Antiquity offers a comprehensive study of the calendars of the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern world, from the origins up to and including Jewish and Christian calendars in late Antiquity.


Book Synopsis Calendars in Antiquity by : Sacha Stern

Download or read book Calendars in Antiquity written by Sacha Stern and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2012-09-06 with total page 468 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Calendars were at the heart of ancient culture and society and were far more than just technical, time-keeping devices. Calendars in Antiquity offers a comprehensive study of the calendars of the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern world, from the origins up to and including Jewish and Christian calendars in late Antiquity.

Head of All Years

Head of All Years

Author: Jonathan Ben-Dov

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2008-11-30

Total Pages: 352

ISBN-13: 9047424190

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Rather than being an isolated, primitive body of knowledge the Jewish calendar tradition of 364 days constituted an integral part of the astronomical science of the ancient world. This tradition—attested in the Dead Sea Scrolls and in the Pseudepigrapha—stands out as a coherent, novel synthesis, representing the Jewish authors’ apocalyptic worldview. The calendar is studied here both “from within”—analyzing its textual manifestations —and “from without”—via a comparison with ancient Mesopotamian astronomy. This analysis reveals that the calendrical realm constituted a significant case of inter-cultural borrowing, pertinent to similar such cases in ancient literature. Special attention is given to the “Book of Astronomy” (1 Enoch 72-82) and a variety of calendrical and liturgical texts from Qumran.


Book Synopsis Head of All Years by : Jonathan Ben-Dov

Download or read book Head of All Years written by Jonathan Ben-Dov and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2008-11-30 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rather than being an isolated, primitive body of knowledge the Jewish calendar tradition of 364 days constituted an integral part of the astronomical science of the ancient world. This tradition—attested in the Dead Sea Scrolls and in the Pseudepigrapha—stands out as a coherent, novel synthesis, representing the Jewish authors’ apocalyptic worldview. The calendar is studied here both “from within”—analyzing its textual manifestations —and “from without”—via a comparison with ancient Mesopotamian astronomy. This analysis reveals that the calendrical realm constituted a significant case of inter-cultural borrowing, pertinent to similar such cases in ancient literature. Special attention is given to the “Book of Astronomy” (1 Enoch 72-82) and a variety of calendrical and liturgical texts from Qumran.

Standard C Date/Time Library

Standard C Date/Time Library

Author: Lance Latham

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 1998-01-06

Total Pages: 560

ISBN-13: 9780879304966

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Does the year 2000 have you sweating late-night code? Use our complete library of C programming functions to master Y2K, time on the Net, ISO 8601, time stamp compression, or any other time/date application you encounter. Using the astronomers Julian Day'


Book Synopsis Standard C Date/Time Library by : Lance Latham

Download or read book Standard C Date/Time Library written by Lance Latham and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 1998-01-06 with total page 560 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Does the year 2000 have you sweating late-night code? Use our complete library of C programming functions to master Y2K, time on the Net, ISO 8601, time stamp compression, or any other time/date application you encounter. Using the astronomers Julian Day'

Marking Time

Marking Time

Author: Duncan Steel

Publisher: Turner Publishing Company

Published: 2007-08-03

Total Pages: 499

ISBN-13: 0470245085

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"If you lie awake worrying about the overnight transition from December 31, 1 b.c., to January 1, a.d. 1 (there is no year zero), then you will enjoy Duncan Steel's Marking Time."--American Scientist "No book could serve as a better guide to the cumulative invention that defines the imaginary threshold to the new millennium."--Booklist A Fascinating March through History and the Evolution of the Modern-Day Calendar . . . In this vivid, fast-moving narrative, you'll discover the surprising story of how our modern calendar came about and how it has changed dramatically through the years. Acclaimed author Duncan Steel explores each major step in creating the current calendar along with the many different systems for defining the number of days in a week, the length of a month, and the number of days in a year. From the definition of the lunar month by Meton of Athens in 432 b.c. to the roles played by Julius Caesar, William the Conqueror, and Isaac Newton to present-day proposals to reform our calendar, this entertaining read also presents "timely" tidbits that will take you across the full span of recorded history. Find out how and why comets have been used as clocks, why there is no year zero between 1 b.c. and a.d. 1, and why for centuries Britain and its colonies rang in the New Year on March 25th. Marking Time will leave you with a sense of awe at the haphazard nature of our calendar's development. Once you've read this eye-opening book, you'll never look at the calendar the same way again.


Book Synopsis Marking Time by : Duncan Steel

Download or read book Marking Time written by Duncan Steel and published by Turner Publishing Company. This book was released on 2007-08-03 with total page 499 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "If you lie awake worrying about the overnight transition from December 31, 1 b.c., to January 1, a.d. 1 (there is no year zero), then you will enjoy Duncan Steel's Marking Time."--American Scientist "No book could serve as a better guide to the cumulative invention that defines the imaginary threshold to the new millennium."--Booklist A Fascinating March through History and the Evolution of the Modern-Day Calendar . . . In this vivid, fast-moving narrative, you'll discover the surprising story of how our modern calendar came about and how it has changed dramatically through the years. Acclaimed author Duncan Steel explores each major step in creating the current calendar along with the many different systems for defining the number of days in a week, the length of a month, and the number of days in a year. From the definition of the lunar month by Meton of Athens in 432 b.c. to the roles played by Julius Caesar, William the Conqueror, and Isaac Newton to present-day proposals to reform our calendar, this entertaining read also presents "timely" tidbits that will take you across the full span of recorded history. Find out how and why comets have been used as clocks, why there is no year zero between 1 b.c. and a.d. 1, and why for centuries Britain and its colonies rang in the New Year on March 25th. Marking Time will leave you with a sense of awe at the haphazard nature of our calendar's development. Once you've read this eye-opening book, you'll never look at the calendar the same way again.

The Urgency of Now!

The Urgency of Now!

Author: Angelicus-M. B. Onasanya

Publisher: Xlibris Corporation

Published: 2009-05-16

Total Pages: 155

ISBN-13: 1465324526

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The question of nation building has enjoyed currency in the discourse about the general development of countries around the world. Its global importance could be discerned in two different areas; nation-building as applied to efforts aimed at rebuilding a country after a war as in Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and so on; and nation-building with regard to efforts aimed at dealing with the sobering realities of failed or failing countries whose populations have been exploited, abused and mismanaged almost to the point of extinction. As can, and should be expected, Nigeria and Nigerians, at home and abroad, have not been exempt from these discourses especially in the past few years as the countrys nascent and fledging (?) democracy became embarrassingly threatened to the point of abortion within Nigeria and the international community of nations. In ones sober moments, the realisation that Nigeria is fast becoming another failed state procures rather scary thoughts.


Book Synopsis The Urgency of Now! by : Angelicus-M. B. Onasanya

Download or read book The Urgency of Now! written by Angelicus-M. B. Onasanya and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2009-05-16 with total page 155 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The question of nation building has enjoyed currency in the discourse about the general development of countries around the world. Its global importance could be discerned in two different areas; nation-building as applied to efforts aimed at rebuilding a country after a war as in Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and so on; and nation-building with regard to efforts aimed at dealing with the sobering realities of failed or failing countries whose populations have been exploited, abused and mismanaged almost to the point of extinction. As can, and should be expected, Nigeria and Nigerians, at home and abroad, have not been exempt from these discourses especially in the past few years as the countrys nascent and fledging (?) democracy became embarrassingly threatened to the point of abortion within Nigeria and the international community of nations. In ones sober moments, the realisation that Nigeria is fast becoming another failed state procures rather scary thoughts.