Mapping Time: The Calendar and Its History - Softcover

Richards, E. G.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0192862057 ISBN 13: 9780192862051

Publisher: Oxford University Press, U.S.A., 2000

Synopsis

Mapping Time is an account for the general reader of the history and underlying basis of each of the most important calendars of the world, from antiquity to modern times. There are descriptions of prehistoric calendars, of those devised by the Egyptians, the Mayans, the Aztecs, and other civilizations, of the short-lived French Republican calendar, which introduced a ten-day week, and of our present-day Gregorian calendar. This fascinating and highly entertaining book is the perfect guide to understanding the background of time in the run up to the millennium. 'an easily accessible mine of material' TLS 'Richards makes even the most arcane complications arising from the accident of Earth's spin and orbit seem fascinating' New Scientist.

About this title

Product Description

This fascinating book draws together a wealth of diverse material on the much-trusted (and rarely disputed) phenomenon we know as the calendar. From the fundamentals of astronomy to the world's ancient time-keeping schemes, to the development of the modern-day calendar, to the precise calculation of when specific dates occur (as in how one arrives at the date for Easter Sunday), this is a skillful yet approachable discussion of the calendar from both the historical and contemporary perspectives. Readers will even learn how to perform experiments and calculations for themselves by using such basic techniques as stargazing and simple mathematics.

Review

This is a work of enthusiastic research. Richards makes even the most arcane complications arising from the accident of Earth's spin and orbit seem facinating. (New Scientist Sat 28th November 1998.)

..a substantial work, perhaps more useful as a reference tool than David Ewing Duncan's more story-oriented Calender (Library Journal)

This is a book full of fascinating snippets of information....a fascinating book to dip into, though not necessarily to read in one great gulp. This is a great buy for Christmas for that pedant in your life, who will enjoy explaining the origins and foundations of calenders and time itself (Morning Star, Monday 14th December 1998)

...an easily accesible mine of material....the mathematics never obtrudes. It gives the book stiffening, and those who are tempted to skip it will be left with a rather weak medley of history...those who read his account carefully will emerge with a good idea of what a lunae-solar calender is....Richards does not flinch from some useful tabulations of his material, and he does grasp the underlying mechanisms (Times Literary Supplement, Friday 11th December 1998)

....there could be no more timely book....a historical and multicultural over-view of calender making (The Sunday Times)

This is a work of enthusuastic research.....Ricahrds makes even the most arcane complications arrising from the accident of the Earth's spin and orbit seem fascinating (New Scientist)

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press, U.S.A.
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0192862057
• ISBN 13: 9780192862051
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 460