Greco-Roman Astronomy: The History of the Scientific Advances Made in Cosmology by the Ancient Greeks and Romans

In virtually all fields of human endeavor, Classical Athens was so much at the forefront of dynamism and innovation that the products of its most brilliant minds remain not only influential but still relevant to this day.  Athens produced innovative mathematicians, natural philosophers, historians, astronomers and politicians that the city’s great schools nurtured and produced, and Greek scientists would revolutionize astronomy.

The stars guided navigation and agricultural timing, and many people sought meaning and patterns in the ever-moving canvas of the sky. However, while the Sumerians, Egyptians, and other cultures had practical incentives to develop early astronomy, the ancient Greek philosophers did not separate scientific and philosophical disciplines. Philosophy was considered an attempt to understand the entire cosmos and not just a part of it, so every aspect of life and every observable thing might be considered under the umbrella of philosophy, including technology and art. 

Thanks to the Romans' embrace of Hellenism, the development of Roman astronomy was similar. It evolved over the centuries, embracing the ideas of many cultures as the Romans conquered much of the known world, soaking up knowledge from Asia, Europe, and Africa. Each civilization brought distinct traditions and scientific understanding, and Rome was a bridge, preserving and spreading the concepts and technologies of its conquered lands, including astronomy. Roman astronomy had practical purposes, like timekeeping, and Roman ships used the stars for navigation. The Romans oriented monuments, temples, tombs, and cities with specific constellations, and like most ancient people, the Romans believed in astrology. They thought the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars influenced human lives and earthly events, and most Romans viewed astrology as a natural extension of astronomy.