Ptolemy died in 170 CE in Alexandria, aged about 70. A Greek-speaking mathematician, astronomer and geographer who lived in Roman Alexandria, Ptolemy wrote works that dominated scientific thinking for well over a thousand years. His Almagest set out a geocentric model of the universe, with the planets moving on circles within circles called epicycles, and included a star catalogue. His Geography listed the coordinates of thousands of places and described methods for drawing maps. He also wrote on astrology, optics and music theory. His astronomy was preserved and refined by Islamic scholars and was later transmitted to medieval Europe, until it was replaced by the heliocentric system of Copernicus. The dates given for his life are approximate.
Before and after
- c. 150sPtolemy writes the Almagest
- 161 CEOrigins of Odeon of Herodes Atticus
- from 165 CE to 180 CEAntonine Plague
- from 166 CE to 180 CEMarcomannic Wars
- 170 CEDeath of Ptolemy
- 17 March 180 CEDeath of Marcus Aurelius
- from 184 CE to 205 CEYellow Turban Rebellion
- 185 CEChinese astronomers record the supernova of 185
- 193 CEYear of the Five Emperors
More in Science & technology
- 287 BCEBirth of Archimedes
- c. 270s BCEAristarchus of Samos proposes that the Earth orbits the Sun
- 3rd century BCEArchimedes' principle
- c. 241 BCEEratosthenes measures the size of the Earth
- c. 131 BCEHipparchus discovers the precession of the equinoxes
- 1 January 45 BCEThe Julian calendar takes effect
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 2nd century.