Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c6.14

v1.c6.14

Astronomy was a well-developed knowledge system in ancient India. Indians observed and described various astronomical phenomena using advanced mathematical calculation and formulae. According to Professor David E. Pingree, ancient Indian astronomy can be divided into five periods, namely, the Vedic Period (from 1000 BCE to about 400 BCE), Babylonian Period (from 400 BCE to 200 CE), Hellenistic Babylonian Period (from 200 CE to about 400 CE), the Greek Period (from 400 CE to 1600 CE) and the Islamic Period (from 1600 CE to about 1800 CE).