Early Astronomy: From Babylonia to Copernicus - W. M. O' Neil

First published in 1986, Early Astronomy offers an engaging exploration of the early foundations of modern Western astronomy, spanning over three millennia up to the sixteenth century AD. Beginning in Mesopotamia during the second millennium BC, astronomy evolved from a proto-scientific form to a precise, quantitative science by the first millennium BC. The Greeks built upon Babylonian data, introducing mathematical models and geometrical formulations, culminating in Ptolemy’s work in the second century AD.

Following a decline in Greek astronomy by the fifth century, Arab astronomers revived and expanded upon Greek traditions from the ninth century onward, incorporating Indian influences, refining empirical values, and questioning earlier theories. As Arab astronomy waned in the fourteenth century, Europe experienced a reawakening, culminating in the Copernican revolution. While Copernicus is often seen as the first modern astronomer, he is better regarded as the last great figure of the Babylonian-Greek Arabian tradition. This book is essential for readers curious about the history of early astronomy.