Overview
- Fully revised and expanded translation and analysis of the procedure texts of Babylonian mathematical astronomy
- Babylonian mathematical astronomy is explained through simple concepts to increasingly complex concepts and algorithms
- Incorporates a typological analysis of all astronomical procedures
- Includes a glossary of Babylonian technical astronomical terms, many of which are not adequately explained in the available dictionaries
- Includes over 100 photos of cuneiform tablets dating from 350-50 BCE
- Incorporates recent insights from Assyriology and translation science
- Contains updated and expanded astronomical interpretations and investigations that have previously ignored in linguistic, mathematical and other aspects
Part of the book series: Sources and Studies in the History of Mathematics and Physical Sciences (SHMP)
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Table of contents (5 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
Keywords
About this book
This book contains new translations and a new analysis of the procedure texts of Babylonian mathematical astronomy, the earliest known form of mathematical astronomy of the ancient world. The translations are based on a modern approach incorporating recent insights from Assyriology and translation science.
The work contains updated and expanded interpretations of the astronomical algorithms and investigations of previously ignored linguistic, mathematical and other aspects of the procedure texts.
Special attention is paid to issues of mathematical representation and over 100 photos of cuneiform tablets dating from 350-50 BCE are presented.
In 2-3 years, the author intends to continue his study of Babylonian mathematical astronomy with a new publication which will contain new editions and reconstructions of approx. 250 tabular texts and a new philological, astronomical and mathematical analysis of these texts. Tabular texts are end products of Babylonian math astronomy, computed with algorithms that are formulated in the present volume, Procedure Texts.
Reviews
From the reviews:
"This book is unquestionably the most significant publication on Babylonian mathematical astronomy since Neugebauer’s ACT. Living up to the standard set by Neugebauer is no small challenge, but there is no doubt that Ossendrijver has succeeded in that task, producing both a clearly written and technically outstanding study of these highly important texts." (J.M. Steele, Journal for the History of Astronomy, August, 2013)
“The available corpus of Babylonian texts concerning mathematical astronomy … consists of about 440 tablets, dating roughly between 450 and 50 BC. … very readable photographs of the tablets are provided. … this book will allow scholars with an inclination toward mathematics, and an interest in the history of science in antiquity, to be in contact with its raw products without having to devote their entire lives to such study.” (Bruno Poizat, Mathematical Reviews, April, 2013)
Authors and Affiliations
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Babylonian Mathematical Astronomy: Procedure Texts
Authors: Mathieu Ossendrijver
Series Title: Sources and Studies in the History of Mathematics and Physical Sciences
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3782-6
Publisher: Springer New York, NY
eBook Packages: Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics and Statistics (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media New York 2012
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4614-3781-9Published: 25 April 2012
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-4899-8850-8Published: 08 May 2014
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4614-3782-6Published: 24 April 2012
Series ISSN: 2196-8810
Series E-ISSN: 2196-8829
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XXVI, 618
Topics: History of Mathematical Sciences, Astronomy, Observations and Techniques, History of Science, Oriental Languages, Semitic Languages, Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology