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Astronomy in World History (HPSC20015)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Summer Term
Email: gerhardw@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability | Summer Term |
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Fees | Look up fees |
In many cultures the study of celestial phenomena has taken a central role in the attempts to understand the world they lived in. The apparent regularity of sun, moon and stars enabled observers to formulate rules for the behaviour of celestial bodies and derive predictions from these rules. The subject will study how astronomical knowledge has developed throughout the world. It combines simple astronomical observations and study of historical instruments with classes discussing the development of astronomy in different cultures ranging from East Asia via the Middle East and Europe to Central America and Australia.
Central questions will be: How were the same phenomena interpreted in different cultures? How were astronomical observations done? What political and religious functions did astronomy have? How was astronomical knowledge transmitted between different cultures? Why did early modern Europe become the place that developed the idea of modern science and how did other civilisations react to the astronomical developments in Europe? The subject will thus give an overview of the origins of our modern world view while offering reflections on cross-cultural studies of science.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject will:
- possess a deep knowledge of central developments in the history of astronomical thought;
- develop skills in elementary astronomical observations;
- comprehend the complex relation between the cultural foundations of science and the study of natural phenomena;
- appreciate the cultural differences in the study of nature while being able to assume a comparative perspective;
- conduct independent research including the appropriate use of primary and secondary sources in mounting an historical argument;
- develop effective communication and presentation skills (written and oral), and the ability to collaborate constructively within the classroom;
- demonstrate ethical integrity in written work and classroom activities
Last updated: 19 March 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 19 March 2024
Assessment
Additional details
- Daily in-class assignments (15%)
- An observation report, 1200 words, due 7 February (30%)
- An analysis of an historical astronomical instrument, 1200 words, due 16 February (30%)
- A poster, equivalent to 1000 words, due 23 February (25%)
Hurdle requirement:
- Students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject.
- All pieces of written work must be submitted in order to pass this subject.
Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. After five working days late assessment will not be marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.
For students who need to graduate it is possible to finalise the result for this subject before the end of February 2017
Last updated: 19 March 2024
Dates & times
- Summer Term
Principal coordinator Gerhard Wiesenfeldt Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 32 hours - one 1 hour lecture, one 1 hour practical and one 1 hour tutorial per day over the 2 week teaching period. An additional 2 hours of observation classes during the first week (to be arranged at the beginning of the subject). Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 30 January 2018 to 14 February 2018 Last self-enrol date 2 February 2018 Census date 9 February 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 23 February 2018 Assessment period ends 5 March 2018 Summer Term contact information
Email: gerhardw@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 19 March 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
A subject reader will be made available before the start of the subject.
Recommended texts and other resources
John North, Cosmos: An Illustrated History of Astronomy and Cosmology, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008
James Evans, The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy, New York & Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major History and Philosophy of Science - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 19 March 2024