Mapping the Cosmos from the Neolithic to Now

Catalog description

This seminar explores how humans have visualized the cosmos from Neolithic times to today. It surveys artworks and texts from Stone Age monuments through ancient civilizations to modern space imaging. The course examines how technology, religion, philosophy and society shaped astronomical tools and techniques, from early observatories and sundials to telescopes and satellites. The course especially focuses on crucial developments in medieval and early modern art and science, as seen in manuscripts and early printed books. Students engage through weekly readings, discussions, group projects, and writing assignments.