Overview
As we progress, you will see that many things that we take for granted are not as simple as we thought. And the less complex they seem on the surface, the more fundamental they become when we delve into the details.
Such is the subject of calendars. We all have one on the fridge or in our smartphones or somewhere convenient. However, do we really appreciate it? For this discussion, we will study the various calendars that are in existence. Some are dead, like the ancient Roman calendar; others are exceedingly complex but beautiful in their narration of a culture.
Ever wonder why there are 360 degrees in a circle?
The Sumerian scribes and the ancient Babylonians are responsible; although, they were just trying to keep track of the year. The Sun appears to move about a degree per day against the background stars – at 365.25 actual days for this process, we know it’s very slightly less than one degree per day, but they didn’t have telescopes and other tech – 360 was pretty good, and only had to be tweaked once in awhile. Here’s the reference and a lot more about the Sumerian calendar:
Mesopotamian Calendar
Instructions:
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For your post in this discussion, find and research another calendar used by a group of people, give a minimum of one source using APA citation (that has a hotlink on the website). (Wikipedia is not allowed) – making sure not to repeat a culture/calendar already done by your classmates. You may claim your topic by starting a thread with a descriptive Subject heading (your calendar name and group of people), then once you’ve written your summary reply to your thread to post it.
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Describe the calendar and include the following details:
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Is it solar or lunar based or other?
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What time period was it used? By whom?
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Include at least a couple of interesting or unusual features.
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include why you believe this calendar was important to its’ people/culture.
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Remember to meet the 150 word minimum.
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