Before Copernicus: The Cultures and Contexts of Scientific Learning in the Fifteenth Century

This Collection Of Essays Explores The Multi-cultural, Multi-religious, And Multi-lingual Context Of Learning On The Eve Of The Copernican Revolution. Although Copernicus's Work And Its Influence Have Been Subject To A Number Of Excellent Studies, There Has Been Surprisingly Little Attention Paid To Copernicus's Sources And The Diverse Cultures And Contexts Of Learning In Which He Lived And By Which He Could Have Been Inspired. Previous Authors Who Have Attended To This Background Have Tended To Put Forth Singular And Rather Narrow Explanations Of Copernicus's Turn To Heliocentrism. In Contrast, This Volume Does Not Seek To Provide 'the' Explanation, Or Even 'an' Explanation, But Rather Provides The Reader With Aspects Of The Complex And Surprisingly Rich Intellectual And Scientific World Before Copernicus.-- Introduction / F. Jamil Ragep And Rivka Feldhay -- 1. What Did It Mean To Live In The Long Fifteenth Century? / Christopher S. Celenza -- 2. European Cross-cultural Contexts Before Copernicus / Nancy Bisaha -- 3. The Status Of Astronomy As A Science In Fifteenth-century Cracow : Ibn Al-haytham, Peurbach, And Copernicus / Edith Dudley Sylla -- 4. Regiomontanus And Astronomical Controversy In The Background Of Copernicus / Michael H. Shank -- 5. Framing The Appearances In The Fifteenth Century : Alberti, Cusa, Regiomontanus, And Copernicus / Raz Chen-morris And Rivka Feldhay -- 6. Fifteenth-century Astronomy In The Islamic World / Sally P. Ragep -- 7. From Tūn To Toruń: The Twists And Turns Of The Ṭūsī-couple / F. Jamil Ragep -- 8. Jews As Scientific Intermediaries In The European Renaissance / Robert Morrison. Edited By Rivka Feldhay And F. Jamil Ragep. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 283-320) And Index. Issued Also In Electronic Format.