Ancient Babylonian Astronomy

[PtolemAE]

Science (January 29 2016, page 482) has a fascinating article showing Babylonian astronomers were able to track the position of Jupiter using a mathematical technique akin to modern calculus.  Based on analysis of cuneiform tablets long residing at the British Museum.  Pretty cool.

PtolemAE

[gallienus1]

Astounding!

It just goes to show what has been lost can take thousands of years to re-invent.

Here is an online article from Australia's ABC-

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-29/ancient-babylonian-text-earliest-use-of-calculus-for-astronomy/7121548

[mix_val]

Wonderful discovery...As described in the article, the Babylonian's were using many of the concepts fundamental to integral calculus.   

[SC]

Yes, but do the tablets show that Babylonian high school students hated and feared calculus as much as I did in the 1980s?

Shawn

[Meepzorp]

Yes, but do the tablets show that Babylonian high school students hated and feared calculus as much as I did in the 1980s?

Shawn

Hi otl,

I was also in high school in the 1980s.

Why did you hate and fear calculus? I loved calculus, both in high school and college. I thought it was fun and interesting.

Meepzorp

[hannibal2]

The ancients knew far more than we ever thought.

Something I have been working on recently. Forecasting the solstice day (and time) for this summer, using a technique developed before 3600 BCE. Works perfectly. Determining the solstice day and hour is relatively easy (especially with the grandly sized original).

Look up Wiki ( and similar links) for "solstice determination" to find what we can do today.

[quadrans]

Wonderful discovery...As described in the article, the Babylonian's were using many of the concepts fundamental to integral calculus.   

+ 1 

I enjoy this thread

Q.