The Origins of Astronomy
The Complete History of Science
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Introduction
Science as we would understand it is a relatively modern idea. The words science and scientist were not widely used until the 19th century. A reasonable starting point are the early civilizations of the Middle East, particularly Egypt and Babylon around 3000 years ago. These peoples were amongst the first to go from nomadic hunter-gatherers into settled societies dependent on agriculture. Successful agriculture requires an understanding of a calendar important for knowing the best time to plant and harvest crops. This societal change was the key event in early science which made practice of science possible.
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