World 5000 Years of Science Stories: Illustrated Edition

Author: Wei Zhimin Wang Yan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: This book aims to create a brand-new reading material on world science through an encyclopedic editing concept. It carefully selects nearly one hundred scientific stories, covering major scientific discoveries, technological inventions, and scientists that have had a significant impact on humanity. The book narrates the evolution of world science in a captivating manner, blending knowledge and fun. A crystallization of 5,000 years of human wisdom, featuring nearly one hundred scientific masters, over a hundred technological achievements, 150,000 vivid words, and more than 300 exquisite illustrations, it takes you on a colorful journey through a dazzling world of science.
Bao Shi Ling Ting Tu Gong Bao Kou Rao Shi Shu Dao Ben Jian La Nian Chuan Ze Yi Bu Rang Xie De Xie
Shi Juan Xie Xie Ya Ya Bo Jie Yin An Gang Kuang Xiang Ya Gong Shi Shi Bao Mo Rong She Jian Can Dong
Bian Mo Rong She Jian Can Dong
5000
You Lang Zhou Fang Huang Di Jiao Jiu
Jiang Bao Wu Kang An Ya Chuan
Shi Juan Xie Xie Ya Ya Bo Jie Yin An Gang Kuang Xiang Ya Gong Shi Shi Bao Mo Rong She Jian Can Dong
Bian Mo Rong She Jian Can Dong
5000
Ru Lang Zhou Zhou Fang Huang Di Jiao Jiu
Jiang Bao Wu Kang An Ya Chuan
1. The Earliest Solar Calendar
Among the various calendars that have been popular throughout history, such as the Chinese Shoushi Calendar, ancient European calendars, ancient Greek calendars, and ancient Babylonian calendars, Chinese ancient calendars determine the length of a year based on the phases of the moon and its orbital period. European ancient calendars determine the year based on changes in celestial phenomena, while ancient Greek calendars also rely on celestial changes. Ancient Babylonian calendars, on the other hand, determine the year based on celestial phenomena and the rise and fall of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Among these calendars, the shortest year is 354 days, and the longest is 384 days.
When it comes to Egypt, the pyramids are the first thing that comes to mind, and that’s correct! The pyramids have become a symbol of modern Egypt, but as one of the four great ancient civilizations, Egypt has another significant achievement—the solar calendar. The ancient Egyptian solar calendar is the earliest calendar in human history, dating back to around 4,000 BCE. This is closely related to the regular flooding of the Nile River. In a sense, it can even be said that the Nile’s regular flooding gave rise to the solar calendar, so it’s necessary to provide some background on the Nile River.
The Nile River refers to the main course of the two rivers—the Blue Nile and the White Nile—after they merge in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. It is 6,700 kilometers long, making it the longest river in the world. It flows through 10 countries, including Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt, before finally emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile River dominates the fate of the countries it flows through. Without its nourishment, the civilization in these regions would perish. However, due to the slow flow of the Nile River and the continuous deposition of silt, the riverbed has been steadily rising, leading to frequent floods. But when the water recedes, it leaves behind vast fertile land. Therefore, the ancient Egyptians had to find patterns to benefit from and avoid the dangers of the floods.
After long-term observation, the ancient Egyptians gradually discovered the of the Nile’s flooding. When the river began to flood, the bright star Sirius was exactly on the horizon at dawn. This astronomical phenomenon is known as "conjunction with the sun," meaning it rises at the same time as the sun. Thus, this day was designated as the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, the cycle of Sirius’s conjunction with the sun was not discovered quickly, but the wise ancient Egyptians did not give up. Through the relentless efforts of several generations, they finally discovered that the day of Sirius’s conjunction with the sun was exactly one month apart from the day 120 years later. By the 1461st year, the day of conjunction with the sun once again became the beginning of the year. Therefore, the ancient Egyptians set a 1460-year cycle as the Sothis Cycle (since they called Sirius the "Dog Star" in their mythology).
By comparing the ancient Egyptian solar calendar with the current Gregorian calendar, it becomes clear how scientific it was: a year had 365 days, divided into 12 months of 30 days each, with the remaining 5 days set aside as religious festivals, similar to our traditional Chinese New Year, which is also 5 days long. This is only 0.25 days shorter than a precise tropical year (365.25 days). After 120 years, it is 30 days shorter, and after 1460 years, it is 365 days shorter, bringing it close to a full year. This way, a complete cycle is formed.
This ingenious calendar embodies the wisdom of countless ancient Egyptian ancestors. In ancient Egypt, people spent a lot of time observing celestial phenomena, especially the position of Sirius, with great precision. They discovered that at fixed times, Sirius would disappear from the sky and then rise again from the eastern horizon when the sun reappeared at the same position, marking a year. At the same time, the ancient Egyptians set the day when Sirius rose before the sun as the New Year.
The solar calendar created by the ancient Egyptians had a profound impact on agricultural production in the Nile Valley, which was also a key factor in Egypt’s status as one of the four great ancient civilizations. It was precisely because of this relatively complete calendar that the ancient Egyptians could accurately predict the rise and fall of the Nile’s water levels, arrange farming schedules wisely, and achieve abundant harvests year after year, ensuring a stable source of food and clothing. On this material basis, ancient Egypt was able to create even more brilliant achievements in fields such as religion, architecture, and medicine.