About this course: Archaeoastronomy is the “science of stars and stones”: it studies the relationships between the ancient monuments and the sky, in order to gain a better understanding of the ideas of the architects of the past and of their religious and symbolic world. The course provides the first complete, easy introduction to this fascinating discipline. During the course, many spectacular ancient sites – such as Stonehenge in England, Giza and Karnak in Egypt, Chichen Itzá in the Yucatan, Macchu Picchu in Peru and the Pantheon in Rome – will be visited and the fascinating events occurring there in special days of the year (such as solstices, equinoxes, or the day of the foundation of Rome) will be shown and explained. The course also provides the necessary background on Astronomy with the naked eye and a general introduction to the role of Astronomy in religion and in the management of power among ancient cultures.

Created by: Politecnico di Milano

Taught by: Giulio Magli, Full Professor
Dept. of Mathematics

Level	Beginner
Commitment	2-3 hours/week
Language	English
How To Pass	Pass all graded assignments to complete the course.
User Ratings	4.4 stars Average User Rating 4.4See what learners said

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Week 1

In this week we shall learn the basic tools which are needed for studying Archaeoastronomy. Essentially, this means learning Astronomy with the naked eye, since the ancients did not have telescopes, and becoming acquainted with a simple instrument - the magn...

5 videos, 1 reading

Graded: Astronomy with the naked eye: how the ancients saw the sky

WEEK 2

Week 2

The core of the course: understanding how astronomy, religion, and the management of power were connected in ancient cultures, and the way in which these connections are reflected in architecture and landscape since the Neolithic. At the end of the week we sha...

4 videos

Graded: Astronomy, power and architecture

WEEK 3

Week 3

An archaeoastronomical tour in a wonderful land: Egypt of the Pharaohs. We shall visit Khufu's (Cheops) Great Pyramid and assist to the spectacular hierophany which occurs every year at Giza at the summer solstice. Then, we shall move to the huge temple of Kar...

5 videos

Graded: Ancient Egypt

WEEK 4

Week 4

An introduction to pre-Columbian Archaeoastronomy, with key topics such as the Maya Calendar, the role of astronomy in Maya architecture, and the sacred space of the Incas at Cusco and Macchu Picchu.

4 videos

Graded: The Pre-Columbian world

WEEK 5

Week 5

A fascinating travel in Greek and Roman Italy, in search of astronomy in the project of some of the masterpieces of the classical age, from the Greek temples of Sicily to the Pantheon in Rome.

3 videos

Graded: The Classical world

WEEK 6

Astronomy insights

Archaeoastronomy is not only "speaking about the Sun and the other stars". Interest in the cumbersome, apparent motion of the Moon and in the alternating behaviour of Venus as morning star/evening star is also present in ancient architecture, for instance in t...

1 video, 18 readings

Graded: Astronomy insight

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Politecnico di Milano

Politecnico di Milano is a scientific-technological University, which trains engineers, architects and industrial designers. From 2014 Politecnico di Milano started the release of several MOOCs, developed by the service for digital learning METID (Methods and Innovative Technologies for Learning), giving everybody the chance to enhance personal skills.

Ratings and Reviews

Rated 4.4 out of 5 of 74 ratings

Increible!

Excelente para abrir la panorámica mental arquitectónica arqueológica sobre nuestro pasado en edificaciones milenarias. El último cuestionario fue muy capcioso y no muy coherente.

First of all many thanks for University Politecnico Di Milano , coursera community and Mr. Magli. Archeoastronomy is not well known subject all around the world by the people. In addition to all branches of science are interested in each others.I felt like a time traveller

Helpful in achieving a good basic understanding of the technical aspects of astronomy and as a good general introduction to the study of archaeoastronomy. Clearly presented and well illustrated.

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