Wayne State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Colloquium
Thursday 17 September, 1998
Babylonian Planetary Theory and the Origins of Ancient Science
Noel Swerdlow, University of Chicago
In the second millennium the Babylonians compiled a large collection of
celestial omens, and by the seventh century they began nightly observation
of phenomena of the moon and planets that continued for six hundred years.
These observations were in turn the basis of a mathematical theory by which
ominous phenomena could be computed. The lecture considers how they went
from celestial omens, to observations, to a fully mathematical planetary
theory that is in fact the origin of applied mathematical science much as
we still do it.
Colloquium starts at 16:00 in Room 245 and lasts about 1 hour
including questions. Refreshements are served at 15:30 in room 245.