Empires of Time: Calendars, Clocks, and Cultures (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: ceque system, structural time, first crescent, Dresden Codex, New World, Templo Mayor (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A linear sense of time may be well suited to our hectic, clock-watching society, but the timekeeping systems of ancient or "primitive" peoples are no less valid, suggests Aveni. Writing as both an astronomer and an anthropologist, he finds parallels between Einstein's concept of space-time and an Aztec "world diagram" which charts a 52-year calendar-round pegged to the passage of the constellation Pleiades overhead. For the semi-nomadic Nuer tribe of Sudan, "eco-time" connects people to their environment. In this wide-ranging, intriguing journey across centuries, Aveni traces the modern calendar's roots back to Greek pastoral poetry and prehistoric African bone markings, then compares Western, Chinese, Maya, Inca and tribal time systems. He also fathoms our division of time into days, weeks, months, seasons and years for clues to our psychology and worldview. He notes that scientists who believe that previous universes existed before the Big Bang echo the Maya and Aztec view of time as cyclical. Illustrations.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Aveni is the author or editor of a number of books and articles about time measurement in America; in this work, his coverage is worldwide and extends from 20,000 B.C. to the present. Following a relatively brief discussion of biorhythms and of some philosophical views on the nature of time, Aveni outlines the development of the Western calendar from ancient times to today's world. Both technical details and intellectual/religious attitudes toward time are discussed. The latter half of the volume is devoted to time-keeping systems of the ancient Mayans, Aztecs, Incas, and Chinese, including some comparisons between these varied cultures and the views of modern Western civilization. This is not fully satisfactory as a study of the subject of time, but the discussion of meso-American calendars is quite interesting. Recommended for college and public libraries.
- Jack W. Weigel, Univ. of Michigan Lib., Ann Arbor
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Colorado; Rev Sub edition (October 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870816721
• ISBN-13: 978-0870816727
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #474,826 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, March 18, 2003

By	James D. Brush (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Empires of Time: Calendars, Clocks, and Cultures (Kodansha globe series) (Paperback)

Aveni's book is a fascinating portrait of the rhythms and roles of time keeping in a variety of cultures including the Aztec, Inca, Maya, and ancient Chinese. A fascinating exploration of a topic we all too often don't bother to consdier.