Describe the common early understanding of the structure of the universe revealed in the cosmogonies of the Babylonians, Hebrews, and Egyptians.

Water was above and below the flat earth. A dome held back the waters above the earth. The stars, planets, moon, and stars moved in the space below the dome and above the earth.

Why have cosmogonies been important to the people who share them?

They fulfill the deepest of all human needs: the need for meaning, order, and purpose in the universe.

Why are ancient cosmogonies useful to historians?

They reveal the values, beliefs, and elements of societies of the people who created or accepted them.

According to Islamic tradition, how does the Qur’an compare to the Hebrew and Christian scriptures?

The Qur’an is believed to contain the same revelation as that given to Jesus and the Hebrew prophets. According to Islam, Jesus and the Hebrew prophets revealed the truth of Allah, but later their followers changed the message. The Qur’an preserves the exact word of Allah.

Describe the Aristotelian view of the universe that was elaborated upon by the Roman astronomer Ptolemy.

The earth did not move. The earth was at the center of the universe and the sun, moon, and stars revolved around it.