Course

This course will examine cultural expressions of astronomy throughout human history. We will study how astronomy has influenced — and been influenced by — calendars, language, literature, mythology, folklore, entertainment, agriculture, arts, fashion, architecture, religion, politics, and science. We will examine the ways that artifacts from ancient cultures, such as famous ruins of ancient civilizations, can be interpreted through their physical alignment to astronomical events. To better understand modern astronomical influences in contemporary culture, we will also briefly review the state of our knowledge about the lives of stars, the nature of planetary systems, and the evolution of the cosmos.