Cultural interpretation of historical evidence relating to astronomy

Abstract

Many varieties of historical evidence, ranging from the written records of outside observers to records generated within traditional cultures, can be drawn upon to illuminate and interpret astronomies in cultures. Such evidence provides historical insights into astronomical practices, cosmological concepts, and the roles that they played in these cultures. The historians' perspective also illuminates the temporal changes of astronomical practices and concepts and can shed light on such classic issues in the history of science as the transmission of scientific ideas between and within cultures and the causes and nature of scientific change.