In the following passage from Great Astronomers by Robert Stewall Ball, the author states that he will trace the developments in astronomy
from the time of Ptolemy to the nineteenth century. Based on the content and style of the excerpt, what kind of audience did Ball primarily have
in mind when he was writing this book?
The history of astronomy thus becomes inseparable from the history of the great men to whose labours its development is due. In the
ensuing chapters we have endeavoured to sketch the lives and the work of the great philosophers, by whose labours the science of
astronomy has been created. We shall commence with Ptolemy, who, after the foundations of the science had been laid by Hipparchus,
gave to astronomy the form in which it was taught throughout the Middle Ages. We shall next see the mighty revolution in our conceptions
of the universe which are associated with the name of Copernicus. We then pass to those periods illumined by the genius of Galileo and
Newton, and afterwards we shall trace the careers of other more recent discoverers, by whose industry and genius the boundaries of
human knowledge have been so greatly extended. Our history will be brought down late enough to include some of the illustrious
astronomers who laboured in the generation which has just passed away.
A
students specializing in the study of astronomy
B.
people with a casual interest in astronomy
c. scientists and mathematicians working with astronomers
D. geologists and cartographers
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the bar kochba rebellion (132-135) against the roman empire, also known as the second jewish-roman war, was the second major jewish revolt in judea and the last of the great jewish-roman wars.

after the first jewish-roman war of the years 66-73, the roman authorities took measures to crush any new attempt of rebellion in judea. his political situation was modified and instead of a prefect a governor of praetorian rank was appointed, and in the ruins of jerusalem the seat of a complete roman legion, the legio x fretensis was established.

the political and religious direction of the jewish people was left in the hands of the sanhedrin, with initial headquarters in yavne.

the direct causes of the rebellion vary according to the source. the roman historian dio cassius (155-229) attributes the revolt to the decision of hadrian to found in the place of jerusalem a roman city called aelia capitolina (aelia by its own name and capitolina in honor of the roman god jupiter). on the other hand, the jewish sources, while recognizing this resolution as true, assign higher priority to the decrees dictated by hadrian that forbade the brit milah (circumcision), the respect of the sabbath and the laws of purity in the family.

hadrian's intention was to "civilize" and incorporate the jews once and for all into the greco-roman culture. for greek and roman culture, circumcision was an intolerable mutilation.

the jewish tradition tells in the midrash tanjuma a meeting between rabbi akiva and the governor turnus rufus, where he asked for an explanation about the circumcision.

an additional legion, the legio vi ferrata, moved to the province to maintain order, and work began in the year 131 after the governor of judea, turnus rufus performed the founding ceremony of aelia capitolina. a roman coin with the inscription aelia capitolina was struck in the year 132.

the tannaim rabbi akiva, who without being named nasi directed the sanhedrin, convinced the other members to support the imminent rebellion.

the jewish leaders carefully planned the second rebellion to avoid the numerous errors that had been committed in the first one. in the year 132 the rebellion led by bar kochba quickly expanded from modiim throughout the country, defeating the x roman legion based in jerusalem and destroying the xxii roman legion that had come from egypt.

president carter called the victims of kidnapping "victims of terrorism and anarchy" and added that the united states was not going to give in to blackmail. in the united states, they see hostage-taking as an outrage on the part of the islamist movement that violated the principle of international law on the immunity and inviolability of diplomats and their embassies.

carter refused to yield to the demands, khomeini used the situation to consolidate his power and nullify the challenges of the moderate wing of his government, headed by its president. the euphoria over the humiliation of the most powerful nation distracted the iranian people from the economic difficulties of their country. carter, in april 1980, broke diplomatic relations with iran and imposed a trade embargo, except medicine and food. iranian funds in the us they were frozen and accounted for to compensate the hostages when they were released and to pay the demands of us companies against iran.

c. more people could read and interpret the bible for themselves