Robert D. Purrington has served as a Professor of Physics at Tulane University and Texas A&M. He has written a number of books covering scientific topics, including Birdwatching in his native state of Louisianna. Dr. Purrington also keeps a residence in the mountains of Colorado.

"The authors have chosen to follow the history of cosmological ideas from ancient to modern times at a level suitable for non-specialist college courses and general reading...Yet, the clarity of presentation and the engaging style make this an enjoyable book for any scientist to read." Nature

• Preface Overview Earliest Awareness First Astronomy The Fountainhead Synthesis Orb in Orb Medieval Europe Copernican Revolution 1 Copernican Revolution 2 Galileo Galilei Newtonian Synthesis Widening Horizons: Einstein General Theory of Relativity Primeval Atom Gravitational Collapse Epilogue Appendix Notes Bibliography Index