Reassessing European impressions of Indian astronomy (1750–1850)

Abstract

The early colonial rule in India was characterised by, among other things, an increasing interest in various disciplines of Indian knowledge traditions. Within the vast array of Indian knowledge systems, the astronomical sciences and corresponding Sanskrit treatises attracted the attention of many prominent orientalists such as Henry Thomas Colebrooke and John Warren. This essay is an attempt to highlight and critically examine some prominent eighteenth century accounts of Indian astronomy.