Mapping Time: The Calendar and its History

by E.G.Richards (Author)

• Used

  Illustrated
  1999

  $13.74

  Mapping Time is an account for the general reader of the history and underlying basis of each of the most important calendars of the world, from antiquity to modern times. There are descriptions of prehistoric calendars, of those devised by the Egyptians, the Mayans, the Aztecs, and other civilizations, of the short-lived French Republican calendar, which introduced a ten-day week, and of our present-day Gregorian calendar. This fascinating and highly entertaining book is the perfect guide to understanding the background of time in the run up to the millennium. 'an easily accessible mine of material' TLS 'Richards makes even the most arcane complications arising from the accident of Earth's spin and orbit seem fascinating' New Scientist

• Used

  Hardcover
  1998

  $8.47

  This volume contains descriptions of a selection of the calendars of the world and their history. There are introductory chapters on the nature of calendars, their astronomical background and the history of writing and counting. There are also chapters on the week and on the history of calendar reform. There is a section on methods of converting dates in one calendar to dates in another which are suitable for implementation on a hand calculator or computer; these include a discussion of the calculation of the date of Easter. The book is intended for the general reader rather than for the specialist but contains much material not otherwise easily accessible.