Martin Lunn – Astronomy in the Mediterranean

Many great civilisations flourished in the ancient Mediterranean. This talk takes us on an astronomical journey to Egypt, Greece, Mesopotamia and the empires of Byzantium and Arabia. We will also visit Europe during the Renaissance. These were very varied civilisations, each with their own interpretation of the night sky. Our modern view of the stars and constellations was shaped in this diverse part of the world, and the study of the oldest of all the sciences is still being undertaken in this region today. This is the story of Astronomy in the Mediterranean.