In this selection of studies, J.L. Mancha explores aspects of the development of medieval optics and astronomy, including some medieval antecedents of the work of early modern astronomers. The articles deal with Latin, Hebrew and Arabic texts, and the process of translation and transmission of knowledge, and focus on three main themes. First, the theory and astronomical use of the pinhole camera in the 12th and 13th centuries; the texts edited here contain a solution to the problem of the formation of images cast by light through triangular apertures, equivalent to Kepler's, a description of the correct procedure for measuring solar apparent diameters using finite apertures, and a derivation of the Sun's eccentricity from its apparent diameters at apogee and perigee. Second, the characteristics of the Latin and ProvenAal versions of Levi ben Gerson's astronomical work, composed in collaboration with the author, as well as his tables and canons for finding syzygies and the mathematical methods used in the derivation of parameters. Third, different aspects of the survival of homocentric astronomy in the Middle Ages, especially al-Bitruji's model for trepidation and the technique for calculating the hippopede resulting from Eudoxan couples.

About the Author
Professor J.L. Mancha directs a research unit in the History and Philosophy of the Physical and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Seville, Spain.

Reviews
'... a welcome addition to the Variorum series and a most useful work for historians of medieval science.' Aestimatio 'This book offers a splendid collection of articles on the transmission of Mediaeval science. It explores in depth the interesting subject of the exchange of knowledge between the Arab culture and Mediaeval Europe via Jewish intermediaries.' Metascience 'Les services que rendent les editions Ashgate A travers leur collection Variorum n'ont plus besoin d'Atre soulignes, et le volume qui reunit les articles de J.L. Mancha en fournit une nouvelle preuve: trouver regroupes sous un format commode et maniable les articles qu'un mAme auteur a consacres A des questions voisines represente pour les amateurs une merveilleuse opportunite, d'autant que cet auteur a ete prie de conforter l'unite thematique de son volume en le dotant d'un bref avant-propos de presentation et d'un index collectif.' Archives Internationales d'Histoire des Sciences



Book Information
ISBN 9781138382558
Author J.L. Mancha
Format Paperback
Page Count 352
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 648g