Dante and the early astronomers

"Dante and the Early Astronomers" by M. A. Orr is a study that explores the connection between the science of astronomy and Dante Alighieri's famous writings. This book looks at how the astronomy of the Middle Ages shaped writings like the "Divine Comedy". It explains how astronomy was understood during Dante's life and how that understanding shows up in his work. The beginning of the volume, describes the importance of astronomy in Dante's world. It points out that after Dante lost someone he loved, he became very interested in science and philosophy. This interest made him want to learn about the stars and planets that were so important to thinkers at the time. The first parts of the book teach readers about the main ideas of astronomy and how the planets were believed to move, so they can understand Dante's references to the sky and what they meant in his stories. The author makes it clear that knowing about the astronomy of Dante's time is essential for truly understanding his writings.