Astronomy
At a glance:
- Series: American Indians Ready Reference
- Categories: Science, Social Science
- Subcategories: Native Americans, American Indians, Astronomy, Astronomers, Cosmology
- Curriculum: American Indian History
- Geographical Location: Canada, United States
Article abstract: The ancient people of the Americas observed the heavens carefully, and many built structures for observing or measuring the movement of the sun and stars
Early Native American knowledge of the heavens ranged from the complex Mayan calendars to more simple markings of the solstices. Throughout North America, references to the sun, moon, stars, and planets occur in creation accounts and other cultural practices.
In Central America, the Mayan calendar influenced civilizations from 100 b.c.e. to the time of the Spanish Conquest (1519-1697)....
[The entire page is 593 words long]
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