Greek Astronomy: The Earth

Early Greeks thought of the Earth as the goddess Gaia, the mother of everything. By the Classical period, however, at least educated Greeks like Thales knew that the earth was a round ball, and by the Hellenistic period Greek scientists like Eratosthenes were able to use astronomy and geometry to measure the circumference of the earth (the distance around it). Aristarchus, finally, showed that the earth went around the sun.

To find out more about Greek astronomy and the Earth, check out these books from Amazon.com or from your library:

The Librarian Who Measured the Earth, by Kathryn Lasky (1994). An account of the life and work of Eratosthenes, who figured out the circumference of the earth. Explains how he did it. For kids.

Greek Astronomy, by Thomas Heath (1932). A collection of what ancient Greek writers had to say about astronomy, in their own words, with a long introduction. For adults.

The History & Practice of Ancient Astronomy, by James Evans (1998). Includes both the history, and directions to actually re-do the experiments that ancient Greek astronomers used to figure out their conclusions. For adults.

Greek Science After Aristotle, by G. E. R. Lloyd (1975).

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