Ptolemy (Ca. 100-170) - Research Article from World of Earth Science

This encyclopedia article consists of approximately 2 pages of information about Ptolemy (Ca. 100-170).

Ptolemy (Ca. 100-170) - Research Article from World of Earth Science

This encyclopedia article consists of approximately 2 pages of information about Ptolemy (Ca. 100-170).
This section contains 493 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Ptolemy (Ca. 100-170) Encyclopedia Article

Greek astronomer

Very little is known about Ptolemy's early life. Born in Alexandria, Egypt, as Ptolemais Hermii, his name was later latinized as Claudius Ptolemaeus, and later Ptolemy.

Ptolemy's chief contribution to science is a series of books in which he compiled the knowledge of the ancient Greeks, his primary source being Hipparchus (fl. second centuryB.C.). Because most of Hipparchus' writings have not survived from antiquity, many of the ideas he espoused about the universe have become known as the Ptolemaic system.

Ptolemy's system placed Earth directly at the center of the universe. The Sun, Moon and planets all orbited Earth. However, since such a scheme did not match the observed motions of the planets, Ptolemy added small orbits to the planets called epicycles, and introduced other mathematical devices to make a better fit.

Despite its errors and complications, the Ptolemaic system was...

(read more)

This section contains 493 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Ptolemy (Ca. 100-170) Encyclopedia Article
Copyrights
Gale
Ptolemy (Ca. 100-170) from Gale. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.