History of Physics and Astronomy

0 AD to 1500 AD

This section shows the important events in Physics and Astronomy from 0 AD years until 1500 AD. The names of people are highlighted in blue, important people are in bold blue.


50 Cleomedes studied refraction
70-147 Ptolemy
77 Pliny – watching gladiators through an emerald
662 Arabic numerals in west – Severus Sebockt
800 School of Science founded in Baghdad
930 –1003 Gerbert - pope
965 -1038 Al Hazan
990 Pope Sylvester III labels beads in the abacus
1350 Spectacles
1450 Printing – invention of printing
1452-1519 Leonardo da Vinci
1472 Halley's comet observed – Johannes Regiomontanus
1473-1543 Copernicus
1476 Printing press - Caxton