Empirico-Statistical Analysis of Narrative Material and its Applications to Historical Dating

These two volumes which concern mathematical statistical chronology represent a major, unique work and are the first of its kind published in the English language. A comprehensive set of mathematical and statistical techniques is presented for the analysis of chronological data. These include, as main tool, the means to compare texts and other sequential data and the ability to judge them in terms of similarity and, hence, closeness. These techniques constitute a new important trend in applied statistics. Volume I concentrates mainly on the development of the mathematical statistical tools and their application to astronomical data, including the Almagest and simulated data (to test the validity of the methods). Substantial material dealing with historical data and chronology is also included. Volume II concentrates on the application of these tools to narrative texts and ancient and medieval records (such as Egyptian, Byzantine, Roman, Greek, Babylonian, etc.). An astonishing wealth of historical data is considered. The conclusions which are drawn concerning the accepted chronological dating of events in ancient history will certainly provoke controversy and serious debate. These two volumes provide the necessary background and material for intelligent participation in such debates. For statisticians, historians, astronomers, archaeologists, and others with an interest in the integrity of historical dating and the means to analyze this.