Empires of Time: Calendars, Clocks and Cultures: Calendars, Clocks and Cultures, Second Edition (Mesoamerican Worlds) - Softcover

Aveni, Anthony

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0870816721 ISBN 13: 9780870816727

Publisher: University Press of Colorado, 2002

Synopsis

"Aveni . . . explores the interplay of culture and time in this edifying and readable cross-cultural study of timekeeping through the ages."

--The Sciences

About this title

Review:

""Empires of Time" is a lively and readable account of humankind's attempts to understand and account for the rhythms of the cosmos. . . . [A]s Aveni ably demonstrates, the origin and cultural meaning of the world's calendars are a wonderfully complex and intriguing story, involving natural cycles, sacred meaning, and political intrigue. By focusing more than half his book on non-Western traditions, Aveni reminds us that other cultures have rich and varied concepts of the passage of time. Both laypersons and scholars will find this book rewarding."
- Ray A. Williamson, Author of "Living the Sky: The Cosmos of the American Indian"

"A good book on time is a rare thing: it requires history; it requires anthropology; it requires astronomy; and it requires physics. . . . As an anthropologist and astronomer known for his detailed work on the archaeo-astronomy of south and central American cultures, [Aveni] speaks with special authority on the fascinating practices of the Mayan and Aztec cultures and their extraordinary fastidiousness with regard to the marking and meaning of time. But detailed knowledge and good judgement are not sufficient to produce a successful book. Aveni achieves that distinction by virtue of the fact that he also possesses a wonderfully eloquent and engaging prose style that carries the reader through fact after fact that could so easily have ossified into a list of deadly dullness. Empires of Time is one of the best books on a scientific theme for the serious general reader that I have read for some time."
--The Times Higher Education Supplement

"Empires of Time is a lively and readable account of humankind's attempts to understand and account for the rhythms of the cosmos. . . . [A]s Aveni ably demonstrates, the origin and cultural meaning of the world's calendars are a wonderfully complex and intriguing story, involving natural cycles, sacred meaning, and political intrigue. By focusing more than half his book on non-Western traditions, Aveni reminds us that other cultures have rich and varied concepts of the passage of time. Both laypersons and scholars will find this book rewarding."
- Ray A. Williamson, Author of Living the Sky: The Cosmos of the American Indian

"If there is another book like this in the English language, I don't know about it. It is written by an expert who knows how to combine first-rate scholarship and good writing. This book should be of great scientific as well as popular interest."
- Michael D. Coe, Professor of Anthropology, Yale University

Synopsis:

In this wide-ranging, intriguing journey across centuries, Aveni traces the modern calendar's roots back to Greek pastoral poetry and prehistoric African bone markings, then compares Western, Chinese, Maya, Inca and tribal time systems. He also fathoms our division of time into days, weeks, months, seasons and years for clues to our psychology and worldview. He notes that scientists who believe that previous universes existed before the Big Bang echo the Maya and Aztec view of time as cyclical.

About this edition

• Publisher: University Press of Colorado
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0870816721
• ISBN 13: 9780870816727
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 350