Circumference: Eratosthenes and the Ancient Quest to Measure the Globe, by Nicholas Nicastro
Merely attach your device computer system or device to the internet hooking up. Get the contemporary innovation to make your downloading and install Circumference: Eratosthenes And The Ancient Quest To Measure The Globe, By Nicholas Nicastro finished. Even you do not want to check out, you could straight shut the book soft data as well as open Circumference: Eratosthenes And The Ancient Quest To Measure The Globe, By Nicholas Nicastro it later. You can additionally quickly get guide almost everywhere, considering that Circumference: Eratosthenes And The Ancient Quest To Measure The Globe, By Nicholas Nicastro it remains in your device. Or when being in the office, this Circumference: Eratosthenes And The Ancient Quest To Measure The Globe, By Nicholas Nicastro is likewise suggested to review in your computer device.
Circumference: Eratosthenes and the Ancient Quest to Measure the Globe, by Nicholas Nicastro
Download PDF Ebook Circumference: Eratosthenes and the Ancient Quest to Measure the Globe, by Nicholas Nicastro
How do you measure the size of the planet you're standing on?
"Circumference" is the story of what happened when one man asked himself that very question. Nicholas Nicastro brings to life one of history's greatest experiments when an ancient Greek named Eratosthenes first accurately determined the distance around the spherical earth. In this fascinating narrative history, Nicastro takes a look at a deceptively simple but stunning achievement made by one man, millennia ago, with only the simplest of materials at his disposal. How was he able to measure the land at a time when distance was more a matter of a shrug and a guess at the time spent on a donkey's back? How could he be so confident in the assumptions that underlay his calculations: that the earth was round and the sun so far away that its rays struck the ground in parallel lines? Was it luck or pure scientific genius? Nicastro brings readers on a trip into a long-vanished world that prefigured modernity in many ways, where neither Eratosthenes' reputation, nor the validity of his method, nor his leadership of the Great Library of Alexandria were enough to convince all his contemporaries about the dimensions of the earth. Eratosthenes' results were debated for centuries until he was ultimately vindicated almost 2000 years later, during the great voyages of exploration. "Circumference" is a compelling scientific detective story that transports readers back to a time when humans had no idea how big their world was--and the fate of a man who dared to measure the incomprehensible.
Circumference: Eratosthenes and the Ancient Quest to Measure the Globe, by Nicholas Nicastro- Amazon Sales Rank: #1894930 in Books
- Brand: Nicastro, Nicholas
- Published on: 2015-03-10
- Released on: 2015-03-10
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 8.27" h x .62" w x 5.48" l, .0 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 240 pages
From Booklist Forget the myth of Columbus’ daring in imagining a round earth. Nicastro not only traces the conception of a spherical world back more than a millennium before the seafarer set sail but also recounts in fascinating detail how the ancient Greek geometer Eratosthenes measured that sphere with astonishing accuracy. Though it would be thousands of years before his feat received appropriate recognition, Eratosthenes conducted his revolutionary science with nothing more complex than a sundial and a compass. With reader-friendly clarity, Nicastro explains the surprisingly simple calculations behind the earth measurement. But readers learn about much more than geodesy: Nicastro delivers the deeply human story of a multitalented genius whose tenure as the head of Alexandria’s famed library occasioned remarkable achievements in literature, history, linguistics, and philosophy despite the political turmoil that periodically rocked the Ptolemaic world. Indeed, this polymath plays out his long career against a colorful backdrop peopled with a rich variety of conquerors and cosmologists, murderers and mathematicians. A distant yesterday still furnishes fascinating drama for readers today. --Bryce Christensen
Review
“Forget the myth of Columbus' daring in imagining a round earth. Nicastro not only traces the conception of a spherical world back more than a millennium before the seafarer set sail but also recounts in fascinating detail how the ancient Greek geometer Eratosthenes measured that sphere with astonishing accuracy. Though it would be thousands of years before his feat received appropriate recognition, Eratosthenes conducted his revolutionary science with nothing more complex than a sundial and a compass. With reader-friendly clarity, Nicastro explains the surprisingly simple calculations behind the earth measurement. But readers learn about much more than geodesy: Nicastro delivers the deeply human story of a multitalented genius whose tenure as the head of Alexandria's famed library occasioned remarkable achievements in literature, history, linguistics, and philosophy despite the political turmoil that periodically rocked the Ptolemaic world. Indeed, this polymath plays out his long career against a colorful backdrop peopled with a rich variety of conquerors and cosmologists, murderers and mathematicians. A distant yesterday still furnishes fascinating drama for readers today.” ―Booklist
“Propelled by the story of Eratosthenes' solution of an ancient puzzle--'How big is the earth?'-- Circumference offers many unexpected pleasures along the way. With an amiable voice and a flowing style, Nicholas Nicastro brings historical places and people to vivid new life, from the shining city of Alexandria to the great conqueror for whom it was named. A real treat for lovers of history and science.” ―Steven Strogatz, author of Sync, and Schurman Professor of Applied Mathematics, Cornell University
“Nick Nicastro's new book is an engaging look at one of the greatest and most neglected minds in antiquity. The author has a gift for explaining complex ideas clearly and with an eye for the telling (and amusing) detail. In breadth and style I am reminded more than anything else of James Burke's Connections.” ―Dr. David B. Hollander, Iowa State University
About the Author NICHOLAS NICASTRO PhD has taught history, anthropology, and psychology at Cornell University and Hobart-William Smith Colleges. He has written five novels as well as short fiction, travel and science articles for The New York Times, The New York Observer, Film Comment, and The International Herald Tribune, Archaeology, and more. He now lives in northern California.
Where to Download Circumference: Eratosthenes and the Ancient Quest to Measure the Globe, by Nicholas Nicastro
Most helpful customer reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful. A Scholarly Work By George Poirier Despite its title and subtitle, there is much more in this book than a description of Eratosthenes's attempt to measure the earth's circumference. Roughly the first half of the book contains information on the ancient world as it existed at about the time that Eratosthenes lived. Topics discussed include: the origin and evolution of the city of Alexandria, the people who lived and worked there, the Museum and Library, other landmarks, the politics, the local kings, the thinkers of the period, etc. In the second half of the book, more technical details are presented on Eratosthenes' measurement of the earth's circumference, e.g., his methods, his results as given in the ancient unit "stade", detective work in converting the stade into modern miles, etc. Also discussed are attempts, over the centuries since Eratosthenes's time, to explore and map the globe and even circumnavigate it. The writing style is scholarly, often witty and generally quite engaging - the second half, in my opinion, is particularly gripping.Unfortunately, there is an error on page 140, near the bottom. Here it is stated that "... the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere is the day when the earth's axis is perpendicular to the plane of its solar orbit". This is incorrect; the earth's axis is never perpendicular to the plane of its solar orbit (the ecliptic); it is currently at about 23.5 degrees off from being perpendicular to the ecliptic and this angle varies somewhat (oscillates) over long periods of time. The first day of spring (vernal equinox), is the day when solar rays hit the earth's surface perpendicular at the equator at local noon, i.e., the sun is directly overhead, as correctly stated in the sentence following the above quote. Simply eliminating the sentence that includes the above quote would easily fix the problem.Aside from this minor point, this is a book that can be enjoyed by anyone; however, based on its scholarly bent and its subject matter, it will likely be most relished by the more serious ancient history/science buffs.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful. Pleasant read By Mitchell R. Alegre "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro is the story of how the ancient Greek scholar Eratosthenes was the first to accurately determine the earth's circumference. Nicastro admits in his preface that little is known about Eratosthenes, and that lack of knowledge is evident in the book. Most of the volume is a wide-ranging history of the Hellenistic period during which Eratosthenes lived. It is not until nearly halfway into the book that Nicastro begins a detailed exploration of Eratosthenes's efforts to determine the earth's girth. The author does have an accessible writing style. I found the last chapter the most interesting when Nicastro explains the consequences of Eratosthenes's work for Europe's sixteenth century explorers. "Circumference" is a quick and pleasant read that provides an easily understood history of ancient scholarship.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Historical Spinning By Darwin8u A nice exploration of the history of one of mathematics more elusive thinkers. IN the spirit of Sobel's 'Longitude,' etc., Nicastro adeptly explores the times, the problem, and the solutions that guided Eratosthenes.Anyone who loves the history of science and math will enjoy this book.
See all 16 customer reviews... Circumference: Eratosthenes and the Ancient Quest to Measure the Globe, by Nicholas NicastroCircumference: Eratosthenes and the Ancient Quest to Measure the Globe, by Nicholas Nicastro PDF
Circumference: Eratosthenes and the Ancient Quest to Measure the Globe, by Nicholas Nicastro iBooks
Circumference: Eratosthenes and the Ancient Quest to Measure the Globe, by Nicholas Nicastro ePub
Circumference: Eratosthenes and the Ancient Quest to Measure the Globe, by Nicholas Nicastro rtf
Circumference: Eratosthenes and the Ancient Quest to Measure the Globe, by Nicholas Nicastro AZW
Circumference: Eratosthenes and the Ancient Quest to Measure the Globe, by Nicholas Nicastro Kindle
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar