Science in the Ancient World: an Encyclopedia (ABC-CLIO's History of Science)

by Russell M. Lawson

Hardcover, 2004

Status

Available

Call number

SCI A.100

Publication

ABC-CLIO

Pages

291

Description

The first A-Z resource to catalog the achievements and legacy of more than four millennia of scientific thought in the ancient world of the Mediterranean and the Near East, providing a complete overview of the physical, chemical, life, medical, and social sciences of the classical world.

Description

Many are familiar with such wonders as steam power and the discovery that the planets revolve around the Sun. The fact that such phenomena were known to the ancient Greeks more than 2,000 years ago is less well known. Now, Science in the Ancient World fills this gap by covering all the major scientific developments during 4,000 years of ancient history.

Over 200 A–Z entries explore the origins of science, from astronomy and mathematics to medicine and chemistry. Giants like Aristotle and Plato are examined, together with more obscure figures like Nearchus, explorer of the Indian Ocean, and Hero, discoverer of steam power. Emphasis is placed on the diversity of ancient science, from the achievements of the Mesopotamians to the science of the Romans. The philosophies behind ancient science are explored, from the Epicurean pursuit of happiness to the asceticism of the Stoics. This comprehensive survey brings to the modern reader a long lost age of scientific discovery.

A complete bibliography of primary source documents, secondary source biographies, and critical analyses
50 illustrations including maps, portraits of the key scientific figures, and depictions of scientific instruments and phenomena

Curiosity is innately human, and the ancients were just as adept at rigorous examination of the world as we are today. Ancient science is often characterized as a blend of superstition, magic, and wild speculation, in contrast to modern science, which is considered the product of enlightened minds. This sharp distinction between ancient and modern science is challenged in this work, which explores more than 4,000 years of scientific inquiry from 4000 BCE to 500 CE." "A compilation of the best available scholarship, Science in the Ancient World: An Encyclopedia details the lively and rigorous world of ancient science, from the beginning of recorded history to the fall of the Roman Empire. Ancient science was rigorous and systematic, and it laid the groundwork for modern scientific inquiry. This book provides readers an introduction to the world of ancient science - the people, the centers of learning, the schools of thought, and more.

Collection

Barcode

3065

Language

Original language

English

Physical description

291 p.; 10.3 inches

ISBN

1851095349 / 9781851095346

Call number

SCI A.100
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