ESHS/HSS Annual Meeting

Eclipse Predictions in 17th-Century Ottoman Calendars: Computation, Representation, and Practice

• In Event: Tabular Practices and the Cross-cultural Exchange of Knowledge in Ancient in Medieval Astronomy 2

English Abstract

This presentation examines the predictions of solar and lunar eclipses found in seventeenth-century Ottoman calendars, highlighting both the epistemological foundations and practical functions of eclipse tables within the broader tabular computational tradition. Far from being mere technical lists of astronomical data, these tables—prepared by Ottoman scholars with considerable care—served multiple purposes, including the organization of daily time, the planning of religious observances, and the structuring of the annual calendrical cycle.
Drawing on selected manuscripts dated between 1600 and 1700, the paper demonstrates how eclipses were calculated, how they were represented through textual and visual means, and how they were integrated into the yearly calendar framework. Particular attention is given to the mathematical procedures, tabular formats, and illustrative strategies employed in these works.
The presentation situates Ottoman eclipse tables within the broader intellectual and practical context of seventeenth-century astronomy, emphasizing their continuities with earlier traditions, their resonances with contemporary developments, and their adaptability to local needs.
By taking eclipse prediction as a case study, this work offers a new interpretation of the relationship between computation, belief, and practice in the Ottoman Empire, contributing to a deeper understanding of how celestial knowledge circulated, transformed, and acquired social significance in the seventeenth century.
This presentation has been supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) under the project titled “A Comparative Study on the Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Scientific Activities in the Ottoman Empire: Annual and Continuous Calendars (1550–1710)” (Project No. 119K827).

Author

• Solmaz Ceren Ozdemir, Independent Researcher