Archaeoastronomy is the “science of stars and stones”. It is an interdisciplinary science in between architecture, archaeology, and astronomy. It studies the relationships between the ancient monuments and the sky, in order to gain a better understanding of the ideas of the architects of the past and of their religious and symbolic world. The course provides the first complete, easy introduction to this fascinating discipline.
During the course, many spectacular ancient sites of archaeology – such as Stonehenge in England, Giza and Karnak in Egypt, Chichen Itzá in the Yucatan, Macchu Picchu in Peru and the Pantheon in Rome – will be visited and the fascinating events occurring there in special days of the year (such as solstices, equinoxes, or the day of the foundation of Rome) will be shown and explained. The course also provides the necessary background on Astronomy with the naked eye and a general introduction to the role of Astronomy in religion and in the management of power among ancient cultures.
Archaeoastronomy
4.4
(385 ratings)
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Politecnico di Milano
Lehrplan - Was Sie in diesem Kurs lernen werden
Woche
11 Stunde zum Abschließen
Week 1
In this week we shall learn the basic tools which are needed for studying Archaeoastronomy. Essentially, this means learning Astronomy with the naked eye, since the ancients did not have telescopes, and becoming acquainted with a simple instrument - the magnetic compass - and amazing softwares: virtual globes and digital planetariums.
5 Videos (Gesamt 25 min), 1 Lektüre, 1 Quiz
5 Videos
The celestial coordinates and the apparent motion of the Sun6m
The constellations and the apparent motion of the stars6m
Precession and the reconstruction of ancient skies4m
Sightseeing with an archaeoastronomer's eye4m
1 Lektüre
Supplementary Course Text5m
1 praktische Übung
Astronomy with the naked eye: how the ancients saw the sky15m
Woche
21 Stunde zum Abschließen
Week 2
The core of the course: understanding how astronomy, religion, and the management of power were connected in ancient cultures, and the way in which these connections are reflected in architecture and landscape since the Neolithic. At the end of the week we shall thus visit the places where Archaeoastronomy was born: Stonehenge and Newgrange.
4 Videos (Gesamt 24 min), 1 Quiz
4 Videos
Archaeoastronomy in action: hierophanies and sacred landscapes6m
The places where Archaeoastronomy was born: Stonehenge6m
The places where Archaeoastronomy was born: Newgrange4m
1 praktische Übung
Astronomy, power and architecture15m
Woche
31 Stunde zum Abschließen
Week 3
An archaeoastronomical tour in a wonderful land: Egypt of the Pharaohs. We shall visit Khufu's (Cheops) Great Pyramid and assist to the spectacular hierophany which occurs every year at Giza at the summer solstice. Then, we shall move to the huge temple of Karnak at the winter solstice, to finally encounter the "heretic" king Akhenaten and the astronomy-related project of his new capital.
5 Videos (Gesamt 30 min), 1 Quiz
5 Videos
The Great Pyramid and the stars6m
The horizon of Khufu7m
Karnak, Abu Simbel and the Egyptian calendar6m
The Amarna heresy and the horizon of the Aten5m
1 praktische Übung
Ancient Egypt15m
Woche
41 Stunde zum Abschließen
Week 4
An introduction to pre-Columbian Archaeoastronomy, with key topics such as the Maya Calendar, the role of astronomy in Maya architecture, and the sacred space of the Incas at Cusco and Macchu Picchu.
4 Videos (Gesamt 28 min), 1 Quiz
4 Videos
Chichen Itza and the Serpent Equinox7m
The Inca pillars of the Sun6m
Macchu Picchu4m
1 praktische Übung
The Pre-Columbian world15m
Woche
51 Stunde zum Abschließen
Week 5
A fascinating travel in Greek and Roman Italy, in search of astronomy in the project of some of the masterpieces of the classical age, from the Greek temples of Sicily to the Pantheon in Rome.
3 Videos (Gesamt 19 min), 1 Quiz
3 Videos
Aosta and Augustus' power from the stars6m
Astronomy and empire at the Pantheon in Rome6m
1 praktische Übung
The Classical world15m
Woche
63 Stunden zum Abschließen
Astronomy insights
Archaeoastronomy is not only "speaking about the Sun and the other stars". Interest in the cumbersome, apparent motion of the Moon and in the alternating behaviour of Venus as morning star/evening star is also present in ancient architecture, for instance in the Americas. This section provides the tools needed to investigate in such cases, as well as insights on the physical effects affecting measures in Archaeoastronomy.
1 Video (Gesamt 6 min), 18 Lektüren, 1 Quiz
1 Video
18 Lektüren
Lunar phases10m
The eclipses10m
The change in the rising and setting points of the Moon10m
The Moon in Archaeoastronomy10m
Bibliography10m
The planets visible with the naked eye10m
The Motion of Venus10m
Venus in Archaeoastronomy10m
Bibliography10m
The Earth's atmosphere10m
Extincion and Thom's law10m
Refraction and parallax10m
Visual alignments10m
The horizon formula10m
Graphical tools10m
Handling archaeoastronomical data10m
The use of Probability in Archaeoastronomy10m
Bibliography10m
1 praktische Übung
Astronomy insight15m
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Top-Bewertungen
Amazingly made MOOC. Perhaps it feels a bit short in comparison to some of the others, but the material is well presented and the suggested readings give plenty of opportunity for further learning.
It was a very interesting course, and had addressed the subject matter in an organized manner. It was challenging at times, but maintained my interest throughout the course.
Dozent
Giulio Magli
Full ProfessorDept. of Mathematics
Über Politecnico di Milano
Politecnico di Milano is a scientific-technological University, which trains engineers, architects and industrial designers.
From 2014 Politecnico di Milano started the release of several MOOCs, developed by the service for digital learning METID (Methods and Innovative Technologies for Learning), giving everybody the chance to enhance personal skills.
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