Archaeoastronomy is the “science of stars and stones”. It is an interdisciplinary science in between architecture, archaeology, and astronomy. 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.
Offered By
Archaeoastronomy
Politecnico di MilanoAbout this Course
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Learner Career Outcomes
12%
started a new career after completing these courses
38%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
12%
got a pay increase or promotion
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Flexible deadlines
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Beginner Level
Approx. 7 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: English, Spanish, Russian, French
Learner Career Outcomes
12%
started a new career after completing these courses
38%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
12%
got a pay increase or promotion
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Beginner Level
Approx. 7 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: English, Spanish, Russian, French
Offered by
Politecnico di Milano
Politecnico di Milano is a scientific-technological University, which trains engineers, architects and industrial designers.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
1 hour to complete
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 magnetic compass - and amazing softwares: virtual globes and digital planetariums.
1 hour to complete
5 videos (Total 25 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
5 videos
The celestial coordinates and the apparent motion of the Sun6m
The constellations and the apparent motion of the stars6m
Precession and the reconstruction of ancient skies4m
Sightseeing with an archaeoastronomer's eye4m
1 reading
Supplementary Course Text5m
1 practice exercise
Astronomy with the naked eye: how the ancients saw the sky15m
1 hour to complete
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 shall thus visit the places where Archaeoastronomy was born: Stonehenge and Newgrange.
1 hour to complete
4 videos (Total 24 min)
4 videos
Archaeoastronomy in action: hierophanies and sacred landscapes6m
The places where Archaeoastronomy was born: Stonehenge6m
The places where Archaeoastronomy was born: Newgrange4m
1 practice exercise
Astronomy, power and architecture15m
1 hour to complete
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 Karnak at the winter solstice, to finally encounter the "heretic" king Akhenaten and the astronomy-related project of his new capital.
1 hour to complete
5 videos (Total 30 min)
5 videos
The Great Pyramid and the stars6m
The horizon of Khufu7m
Karnak, Abu Simbel and the Egyptian calendar6m
The Amarna heresy and the horizon of the Aten5m
1 practice exercise
Ancient Egypt15m
1 hour to complete
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.
1 hour to complete
4 videos (Total 28 min)
4 videos
Chichen Itza and the Serpent Equinox7m
The Inca pillars of the Sun6m
Macchu Picchu4m
1 practice exercise
The Pre-Columbian world15m
Reviews
TOP REVIEWS FROM ARCHAEOASTRONOMY
by JMJun 3, 2017
I volunteer at a public observatory in the UK and wanted some extra material for our guests. I thought Archeoastronomy would be an inspiring and insightful topic to add to the history of astronomy.
by IIMar 2, 2019
Amazingly made MOOC. Perhaps it feels a bit short in comparison to some of the others, but the material is well presented and the suggested readings give plenty of opportunity for further learning.
by BHJun 13, 2017
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.
by IKOct 15, 2020
The overall course was good but I personally found the last test difficult. I had to read for the test from other websites as I found the readings provided in week 7 insufficient for the test.
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