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Astronomy of the Inca Empire by Steven R. Gullberg Pdf
Astronomy in the Inca Empire was a robust and fundamental practice. The subsequent Spanish conquest of the Andes region disrupted much of this indigenous culture and resulted in a significant loss of information about its rich history. Through modern archaeoastronomy, this book helps recover and interpret some of these elements of Inca civilization. Astronomy was intricately woven into the very fabric of Andean existence and daily life. Accordingly, the text takes a holistic approach to its research, considering first and foremost the cultural context of each astronomy-related site. The chapters necessarily start with a history of the Incas from the beginning of their empire through the completion of the conquest by Spain before diving into an astronomical and cultural analysis of many of the huacas found in the heart of the Inca Empire. Over 300 color images—original artwork and many photos captured during the author’s extensive field research in Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Cusco, and elsewhere—are included throughout the book, adding visual insight to a rigorous examination of Inca astronomical sites and history.
Astronomy and Empire in the Ancient Andes by Brian S. Bauer,David Simon Paul Dearborn Pdf
"This joint project of an astrophysicist (Dearborn) and an archeologist (Bauer) was written for the use of astronomers, archeologists, and historians. Includes sufficient background information for readers with little or no knowledge of the Andes. Text sheds new light on relationship between Inca cosmology and social structure"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 58.
NEW VERSION This book introduces readers to the astonishing civilisation of the Incas. Its novelty lies in its general but highly informative synthesis of their history and astronomy through the accounts of contemporary chronicles and recent archaeological findings. Richly illustrated with the author’s own photographs, it will attract the attention of seasoned travellers interested in ancient civilisations and keen to discover what people were capable of achieving so long ago, but also any reader interested in the history and prehistory of South American peoples, including students or university researchers wanting to know more about the pre-Columbian civilizations of Peru. The Inca civilisation was in fact the culmination of cultural contributions from a dozen or so complex pre-Columbian civilizations, such as those of Chavín, Nazca, Wari, or Tiwanaku. Intensely spiritual, the Inca people attributed metaphysical powers to all manner of objects and places they considered sacred, but at the same time the numerous alignments in their buildings show that they result from careful observations of the Sun, the Moon, and the stars at different times of the year. Indeed, the Incas were an essentially agrarian people, so time measurement and calendar devices were essential for the purely pragmatic problem of planning agricultural tasks during the tropical year. The book sets out to describe the Incas in their historical and geographical context, avoiding specialization or excessive technicality, but retaining a certain scientific rigor, and including a detailed consideration of their interest in the sky and astronomy. OLD VERSION The aim of this book is to transport the reader to the heart of the marvelous and fascinating history of the Andean peoples.This work synthesizes information about the Inca civilization and those which preceded it and highlights for these cultures the intimate relationships between the life of the peoples and the observation of the sky. The novelty of this work lies in the general character of the synthesis, avoiding specialization or excessive technicality but retaining the scientific rigor. The text immediately immerses the reader in the surprising cultural diversity of Peru. It quickly becomes apparent that limiting the history to only the Inca Empire would amount to considering only part of the historical diversity of this society and would neglect a major part of its richness.The prestigious Inca civilization was in fact the culmination of the cultural contributions of a dozen astonishing and complex pre-Columbian civilizations such as those of Chavín, Nazca, Wari or Tiwanaku. A major part of the book is focused on the study of the sky and on astronomy, which was of considerable importance in the peruvian universe. If these populations devoted themselves to observing the Sun, the Moon or the brightest planets, they also observed certain “dark” constellations appearing clearly in contrast against the bright background of the Milky Way which played an important role in the cosmic conception of the pre-Columbian worlds. The study of numerous architectural alignments testifies to the fact that these result from astronomical considerations such as the observations of the Sun and other stars (the Pleiades for example) at privileged moments (solstices and equinoxes) of the year. The importance of time measurement and calendar devices used for correct planning of agricultural tasks during the different seasons of the tropical year is also emphasized. The observation of the Sun certainly played a key role in the Inca civilization, particularly for determining the privileged moments of the astronomical year in relation to the agrarian rhythms associated with the tropical year. The history of the Inca people is imbued with an astonishing and pervasive spirituality that is discussed in great detail. These people in fact attributed metaphysical power to objects and places considered sacred which were integrated into a system of privileged directions radiating from the Cuzco temple of the Sun. On reading the various chapters of this book, the reader will undoubtedly retain the dominant idea that Peru has a long, eventful and fascinating history of very rich cultures and civilizations. This book is aimed at a rather wide and cultivated audience, passionate about history, ethnology, and astronomy of south american cultures. It is also intended for students or university researchers interested in the pre-Columbian civilizations of Peru.
Many ancient civilizations have influenced and inspired people in the 21st century, and the Greeks and Romans continue to fascinate the West today, but of all the world's civilizations, none have intrigued people more than the Mayans, whose culture, astronomy, language, and mysterious disappearance all continue to captivate people. In the past decade especially, there has been a renewed focus on the Mayans, whose advanced calendar led many to speculate the world would end on the same date the Mayan calendar ended in 2012. For the Maya, astronomy was not a purely scientific pursuit but intimately linked to religious, mythological, and ideological elements that were of the highest importance. The celestial realm held a sacred nature, as did the many gods and goddesses that dwelt there, so for all Mesoamerican cultures, astronomy was a fundamental part of their everyday lives. Thus, astronomy was present in their calendars, religion, and even agriculture, and in close relation to astronomy, the concept of time was also an essential part of their worldview. The Maya recorded time on almost every surface they could, including lintels, cornices, panels, stelae, friezes, ceramics, and paper. This insistence on capturing dates has led many scholars to suggest the Maya were obsessed with time. The Maya had some of the most advanced astronomical measurements in the world, and their work built upon thousands of years, spanning from around 2500 BCE until the the arrival of the Spanish in 1519. Unlike the Maya, the Aztecs are not widely viewed or remembered with nuance, in part because their own leader burned extant Aztec writings and rewrote a mythologized history explaining his empire's dominance less than a century before the Spanish arrived. Naturally, Cortes and other Spaniards depicted the Aztecs as savages greatly in need of conversion to Catholicism. While the Maya are remembered for their astronomy, numeral system, and calendar, the Aztecs have primarily been remembered in a far narrower way, despite continuing to be a source of pride to Mexicans through the centuries. The Aztec recorded many of the astronomical events they observed in codices and hieroglyphic inscriptions, but the main evidence of their deep astronomical knowledge comes from their calendar system. This information was then used to plan the orientation of buildings and ceremonial centers, which were aligned to sunrises or sunsets corresponding to special dates, such as solstices or equinoxes. Observational calendars were also used to schedule agricultural activities, as well as rituals, festivals, and celebrations. Though the Spanish physically conquered them in quick fashion, the culture and legacy of the Inca Empire has continued to endure throughout the centuries in both Europe and South America, due in no small part to the fact they were one of the most advanced and sophisticated cultures on the continent. Like the Aztecs, the Spanish burned much of the Inca's extant writings, but it is estimated that as many as 35 million once fell under their banner, and the empire's administrative skills were so sharp that they kept accurate census records. Their religion, organization, and laws were also effectively centralized and tied to the rulers of the empire, and their military mobilization would have made the ancient Spartans proud. The sun was the main element present in the Inca worldview, so Inti, the sun god, was worshipped above all others and, even though the different parts of the empire were allowed to practice their individual beliefs, they were encouraged to venerate the sun. The connection with the sun even extended to their kings since they were considered to be the sons of the sun. Naturally, this meant astronomy was a key component of the Incas' beliefs, and in addition to the sun, the Inca observed the moon, stars, constellations, and some planets, all of which became integral parts of their cosmology.
The Inca Empire was a complex, highly developed society that ruled ancient Peru for centuries. The civilization grew strong thanks to important advances in technology. This information-rich title covers the Inca’s roads and communications systems, buildings, bridges, terrace farming, and tools. Readers will also learn about important scientific innovations such as calendars, Quipu, the Incas’ understanding of astronomy, and their medicinal practices. Written with age-appropriate language and accompanied by colorful images, this title brings Inca technology to life.
Decoding Astronomy in Art and Architecture by Marion Dolan Pdf
For centuries, our ancestors carefully observed the movements of the heavens and wove that astronomical knowledge into their city planning, architecture, mythology, paintings, sculpture, and poetry. This book uncovers the hidden messages and advanced science encoded within these sacred spaces, showing how the rhythmic motions of the night sky played a central role across many different cultures. Our astronomical tour transports readers through time and space, from prehistoric megaliths to Renaissance paintings, Greco-Roman temples to Inca architecture. Along the way, you will investigate unexpected findings at Lascaux, Delphi, Petra, Angkor Wat, Borobudur, and many more archaeological sites both famous and little known. Through these vivid examples, you will come to appreciate the masterful ways that astronomical knowledge was incorporated into each society’s religion and mythology, then translated into their physical surroundings. The latest archaeoastronomical studies and discoveries are recounted through a poetic and nontechnical narrative, revealing how many longstanding beliefs about our ancestors are being overturned. Through this celestial journey, readers of all backgrounds will learn the basics about this exciting field and share in the wonders of cultural astronomy.
At the Crossroads of the Earth and the Sky by Gary Urton Pdf
Above Misminay, the sky also is so divided by the alternation of the two axes of the Milky Way passing through the zenith. This mirror-image quadri-partition of terrestrial and celestial spheres is such that a point within one of the quarters of the earth is related to a point within the corresponding celestial quarter. The transition between the earth and the sky occurs at the horizon, where sacred mountains are related to topographic and celestial features. Based on fieldwork in Misminay, Peru, Gary Urton details a cosmology in which the Milky Way is central. This is the first study that provides a description and analysis of the astronomical and cosmological system in a contemporary community in the Americas. Separate chapters take up the sun, the moon, meteorological phenomena, the stars, and the planets. Star-to-star constellations, the "animal" dark-cloud constellations that cut through the Milky Way, and certain twilight- and midnight-zenith stars are analyzed in terms of their spatial and temporal integration within an indigenous cosmological framework. Urton breaks new ground by demonstrating the indigenous merging of such forms of "precise knowledge" as astronomy, meteorology, agriculture, and the correlation of astronomical and biological cycles within a single calendar system. More than sixty diagrams clarify this Quechua system of astronomy and relate it to more familiar principles of Western astronomy and cosmology.
Documents the epic conquest of the Inca Empire as well as the decades-long insurgency waged by the Incas against the Conquistadors, in a narrative history that is partially drawn from the storytelling traditions of the Peruvian Amazon Yora people. Reprint. 20,000 first printing.
The Aztec, Inca and Maya by Martin J Dougherty Pdf
The Aztec, Inca and Maya charts the rise and fall pre-Columbian civilizations in Mesoamerica and South America, from the Maya to the Aztec and Inca empires, as well as the Zapotec, Olmec, Teotihuacan and Toltec civilizations from the 2nd century BCE to the 16th century CE.
Cultural Astronomy In Latin America by Steven Gullberg,Cesar Augusto Zen Vasconcellos Pdf
This book provides a unique view of Astronomy in Culture, Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy involving ancient civilizations in Latin America, emphasizing scientific and cultural knowledge combined with historical, cognitive, archaeological and anthropological aspects. Topics covered in the book include different associations of ancient civilizations with the stars and planets, whether in farming, architecture, social organization, beliefs, myths, religion, metric systems, calendar construction, shrines, and variations in astronomical research methods based on the types of material evidence available. Special attention is paid to the war cycles associated with observed celestial events, day-counting calendars, including movements in the sky and written evidences from codices, and in particular the Andean and Inca traditions of astronomically associated shrines, caves and celestial alignments of monuments and temples.
An authoritative introduction to the fascinating topic of archaeoastronomy—ancient peoples' understanding and use of the skies. Ancient Astronomy: An Encyclopedia of Cosmologies and Myth draws on archaeological evidence and oral traditions to reveal how prehistoric humans perceived the skies and celestial phenomena. With over 200 entries, it offers a number of ways to approach ancient astronomy, from key examples and case studies worldwide (Stonehenge; Mexican and Egyptian pyramids; Chaco Canyon, New Mexico; the Nazca lines in Peru) to general themes (cosmologies, calendars, ancient ideas of space and time, origin myths), to fundamental concepts and methods (how the sky has changed over the centuries, how to survey a site), and to the field's most frequently asked questions (How did ancient peoples navigate the ocean using the stars? How does astrology relate to ancient astronomy? Can ancient sites be dated astronomically?) By revealing the astronomical significance of some of the world's most famous ancient landmarks and enduring myths and by showing how different themes and concepts are connected, Ancient Astronomy: An Encyclopedia of Cosmologies and Myth brings a unique authoritative perspective to an area too often left to speculation and sensationalism.
Embark on a captivating journey through the heights of Andean history with our MCQ guide - "Inca Empire Unveiled: MCQ Expedition through Andean Majesty." Tailored for history enthusiasts, students, and exam aspirants, this comprehensive resource offers a curated collection of multiple-choice questions that unveil the grandeur of the Inca Empire. Explore the architectural wonders of Machu Picchu, the organizational brilliance, and the cultural richness that defined this ancient civilization. Delve into the societal structures, religious practices, and the enduring legacy of the Incas. Perfect your understanding of the Inca Empire and prepare confidently for exams. Elevate your historical acumen and immerse yourself in the majesty of Andean history with "Inca Empire Unveiled: MCQ Expedition through Andean Majesty." Uncover the secrets of the Incas with precision and depth.