Calendars and Years: Astronomy and Time in the Ancient Near East

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. Additional ISBNs1842173022, 1782974954, 1782974946, 9781842173022, 9781782974956, 9781782974949Calendars and Years: Astronomy and Time in the Ancient Near East is written by John M. Steele and published by Oxbow Books. ISBNs for Calendars and Years are 9781782974932, 1782974938 and the print ISBNs are 9781842173022, 1842173022. Additional ISBNs include 1842173022, 1782974954, 1782974946, 9781842173022, 9781782974956, 9781782974949.