Keywords:
Meridians (Geodesy).
;
Prime Meridian.
;
International Date Line.
;
Electronic books.
Description / Table of Contents:
People use concepts such as time and date to structure their lives on a daily basis. They often measure their travel by marking points arranged along great circles on the globe. Yet most do not understand the origin and history of these terms and the stories of the intrepid adventurers, scientists, and seafarers who shaped our picture of the world today. Ariel transports readers to faraway lands and ancient cultures that span more than 3500 years of exploration. Phoenicians, Spaniards, Portuguese, British, French, and many others star in an epic that stretches from Lapland to Cape Horn, via Greenwich, Paris, the Andes and the Fortunate Islands. This book is a collection of stories and myths about geography, navigation, and geodesy- the science that deals with the Earth's figure and the interrelationship of selected points on its surface-that reaches far beyond dry scientific texts to concentrate on the people behind the discoveries. The knowledge and understanding of abstract notions such as the Prime Meridian, the Equator, and the International Date Line is conveyed through emphasis on the human spirit that motivated the pioneer scientists and sailors. It is a tale littered with heroes and villains, battles, tragedies and international intrigue. Readers will learn of a time when nothing was certain-even the shape and size of the earth were the subjects of fierce competition, conflict, and politics.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
Pages:
1 online resource (249 pages)
Edition:
1st ed.
ISBN:
9780313056468
Series Statement:
Explorations in World Maritime History Series
URL:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/geomar/detail.action?docID=491310
DDC:
526/.6
Language:
English
Note:
Intro -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- I: The Meridians -- 1 The Lemon or Orange Debate -- 2 Measuring a Meridian Mark I: What Is the Shape of the Earth? -- 3 Measuring a Meridian Mark II: How Long Is One Meter? -- II: The Prime Meridian -- 4 From Hipparchus to Pulkovo -- 5 Greenwich-The Ultimate Prime Meridian -- 6 Greenwich Goes International -- 7 1984 Beats 1884-GPS -- 8 Time and Tide Wait for No Man, Especially at Greenwich -- III: The International Date Line -- 9 The Paradox: Lost by Magellan, Found by Fogg -- 10 The International Date Line-Truth or Myth? -- 11 The International Date Line and the Millennium -- IV: The Equator -- 12 Crossing the Line -- 13 Who Did It First? -- End of Story -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Internet Sites -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- X -- Y -- Z.
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