معرفی
John Steele is the Charles Edwin Wilbour Professor of Egyptology and Assyriology at Brown University. He is a leading historian of the exact sciences in antiquity, with a primary focus on Babylonian and Mesopotamian astronomy. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York University, and holds editorial roles in multiple prestigious book series and journals, including Scientific Writings from the Ancient and Medieval World and the Journal for the History of Astronomy.
- PhD, Durham University, 1998
- BS, Durham University, 1995
John Steele's research centers on the history of astronomy in the ancient Near East, particularly Babylonian celestial observations, eclipse prediction, calendar systems, and the mathematical methods used in Mesopotamian astronomy. His work bridges philology, archaeology, and scientific analysis to reconstruct ancient astronomical practices. He has extensively studied cuneiform astronomical texts, including the Astronomical Diaries, MUL.APIN, and planetary ephemerides, exploring how Babylonian scholars combined empirical observation with theoretical modeling.
His recent publications reveal a sustained focus on lunar and planetary phenomena, timekeeping, zodiacal development, and the cultural contexts of astronomy. Themes include the use of shadow-length schemes, the transmission of knowledge between Babylon and Uruk, and cross-cultural comparisons with early Chinese astronomy. His articles frequently appear in top journals such as Archive for History of Exact Sciences and Journal for the History of Astronomy, demonstrating both technical depth and historical breadth.
His scientific awards and honors include:
- Caeno Chronology Scholar prize (2003)
- Wepster Lecturer, Archaeological Institute of America (2010–2011)
- Fellow, Institute of Advanced Studies, Durham University (2016)
- Senior Fellow, Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, NYU (2010–present)
- Guest Professor, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (2014–present)
John Steele has supervised numerous collaborative projects and edited key volumes such as Calendars and Years and Under One Sky. He has held major research fellowships at the Royal Society, University of Toronto, and the Dibner Institute. His editorial leadership in journals like SCIAMVS and Isis underscores his influence in the field. While no specific lab or research team is mentioned, his co-authored works and edited volumes indicate active collaboration with an international network of scholars in Assyriology, history of science, and archaeoastronomy.
