The coincidental astronomical backbone of ancient world history (original) (raw)
Through a new comprehensive analysis of the astronomical evidence, including records and traditions of solar and lunar eclipses and planetary conjunctions, we confirm Peter J. Huber's High Chronology for the Near East. After making minor changes in his framework, one may call our proposed system "Extended High Chronology." Numerous illustrations elucidate the eclipses listed, made by Kerry Shetline's Sky View Café software. 54 of them depict historical eclipses of the Sun, while 12 shows historical lunar eclipses. The scope covers Europe (Greece, Rome, and Ireland), Africa (Egypt), Asia (Near East, China), and America (Mexico and Aztlan-Bahamas). The time frame of this paper is from 2400 B.C.E. (the approximate date for Sargon's accession to the throne) to the final days of the Toltec rulers in Mexico (1177 C.E.) Our aim here is to consider the dozens of ignored records related to astronomical dates and assist the open-minded researchers that wish to reconstruct a true absolute chronology of the ancient world. In particular, the astronomical time frame has been accurately established for the 108 years of Ur III (2178-2070 B.C.), enabling scholars to begin their "dead reckoning" down from the fall of Ur. A second aim is to assist astronomers in to confirm (or find better and more reliable) Delta-T values.
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