People and the Sky Our Ancestors and the Cosmos

About this book

How many of us today can accurately identify the stars and constellations, the phases of the moon, or the hour and position of the sunrise? Few modern city-dwellers can, but for our forebears such knowledge was crucial.

"People and the Sky" explores the history of mankind's intimate relationship with the sky, and how the lives of our ancestors were cosmically grounded. This erudite and engaging book will be a fundamental resource for students and scholars as well as being gripping reading for a general audience.

Contents

Introduction: The Sky, a Legacy Lost; 1. The Storyteller's Sky; 2. Patterns in the Sky; 3. The Sailor's Sky; 4. The Hunter's Sky; 5. The Farmer's Sky; 6. The House, the Family and the Sky; 7. The City and the Sky; 8. The Ruler's Sky; 9. The Astrologer's Sky; 10. The Timekeeper's Sky; 11. The Western Sky; Epilogue: Distancing the Sky.

Customer Reviews

Biography

Anthony Aveni is Russell Colgate Distinguished Professor of Astronomy and Anthropology and Native American Studies at Colgate University. He is the author of numerous books, including Skywatchers and Book of the Year: A Brief History to our Seasonal Holidays.