The Astronomical Observatories of Jai Singh c15.s3.11

c15.s3.11

When we examine carefully the methods of the several schools we find somewhat marked differences. Even among the Greek astronomers (e.g., Ptolemy himself) there was a distinct tendency to work on the observations recorded by their predecessors, and, in the later Greek schools, there was a consequent neglect of observational astronomy. With the Hindus this tendency was emphasised to a remarkable extent, and practical work was neglected almost completely. The instruments they describe are either for purposes of, what may be termed, theoretical calculations, or for purposes of demonstration (see page 78). They built no observatories and they made no systematic records of observations.