Chapter 1: The Dome of Heaven Summary and Analysis

The ancient Sumerian, Chinese and Korean astronomers would climb to high elevations to get a better look at the stars. The Egyptians thought of the sky as a canopy supported by the mountains. While ancient cultures didn't understand the depth of space, they were aware of the motion of the stars and planets. The interest they had in the stars could be attributed to curiosity and some intrinsic need to be closer to the stars.

Practical reasons for learning about the stars and their movement included timekeeping and navigation. Early farmers used the sky as a calendar that told them when to plant and harvest. Stonehenge had its foundation in the skies. The Great Pyramid of Giza was aligned to a star. Various American Indian tribes marked the days of the lunar month...