PlanetQuest: The History of Astronomy

Astronomy has always been a vital part of every culture of the world, expressed in as diverse ways as the cultures themselves. In this History of Astronomy section we share some of the ways the peoples of the world have related to the skies for timekeeping, navigation, and creation cosmologies.

Europe     Newgrange Stonehenge The Blanchard Bone	Africa     Nabta Playa Namoratunga The Ishango Bone
North America  Big Horn Medicine Wheel  Astronomy of the Chumash  Cahokia  Chaco Canyon Sun Dagger	Asia     Early Chinese Astronomy Early Indian Astronomy Angkor Wat
South America     Machu Picchu Astronomy of the Incas	Central America     The Dresden Codex Chichén Itzá Copan
Oceania Pacific Island Voyagers     Astronomy of the Aborigines

All maps courtesy of the Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook 2004