Episode 3.12: Restoring Astronomy at the End of the Middle Ages

In this episode, we discuss the transition of European astronomy from the 13th century to the end of the 15th century.  We spend some time taking a look at the effects of The Great Mortality on the institutions of Europe and consider the factors of the rediscovery of atomism, the development of the printing press, the Fall of Constantinople and the rise of the new universities of central and eastern Europe in creating the conditions that would allow for new ideas to develop and spread.  We then conclude by looking at the work of Georg Peurbach and Johannes Muller that brings a full and complete understanding of the Hellenistic model Ptolemy.