Science and Its Times

by Schlager, Neil; Lauer, Josh

• ISBN13: 9780787639334
• ISBN10: 0787639338
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-04-01
• Publisher: Gale / Cengage Learning

Summary

"This series discusses how the major fields of science developed during specific time periods. Each volume focuses on a range of years and includes developments in exploration, life sciences, mathematics, physical sciences, and technology. When the series is completed, the seven volumes will cover 2000 B.C. to the present."--"Outstanding Reference Sources," American Libraries, May 2001.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Advisory Board	ix
Contributors	xi
Introduction: 2000 B.C. to A.D. 699	xiii
Chronology: 2000 B.C. to A.D. 699	xvii
Exploration and Discovery
Chronology of Key Events	1	(1)
Overview	2	(2)
Topical Essays
Hatshepsut's Expedition to Punt	4	(4)
The Role of the ``Sea Peoples'' in Transforming History	8	(2)
The Phoenicians: Early Lessons in Economics	10	(3)
Persia Expands the Boundaries of Empire, Exploration, and Organization	13	(4)
Hanno Sails Down the Coast of West Africa---and Perhaps Even Further	17	(3)
The History of Herodotus	20	(2)
Xenophone and the Ten Thousand	22	(3)
Ultima Thule, Brettanike, and the Voyage of Pytheas of Massalia	25	(2)
Nearchus Discovers a Sea Route From India to the Arabian Peninsula	27	(3)
Alexander the Great	30	(5)
The Silk Road Bridges East and West	35	(5)
Rome's Quest for Empire and Its Impact on Exploration	40	(4)
Caesar and the Gauls	44	(2)
Aelius Gallus Attempts the Conquest of Arabia---and Reaches the Limits of Roman Power	46	(3)
Roman Technology, Government, and the Spread of Early Christianity	49	(3)
Lindisfarne and Iona: Preserving Western Civilization in the Dark Ages	52	(3)
Saint Brendan's Epic Voyage	55	(2)
Hsuan-tasng Forges a Link Between China and India	57	(2)
Fa-Hsien Travels Around the Outskirts of China, to India and the East Indies	59	(3)
Biographical Sketches	62	(22)
Biographical Mentions	84	(5)
Bibliography of Primary Sources	89	(2)
Life Sciences and Medicine
Chronology of Key Events	91	(1)
Overview	92	(2)
Topical Essays
Doctors, Drugs, and Death in Ancient Egypt	94	(5)
Acupuncture in China	99	(2)
Herbal Medicine	101	(4)
The Hebrew Dietary Laws	105	(3)
Hippocrates and His Legacy	108	(3)
The Philosophy of Greek Medicine	111	(3)
The Doctrine of the Four Humors	114	(2)
Aristotle and the Founding of Biology	116	(3)
The Origins of Botany	119	(2)
Ayurvedic Medicine	121	(4)
The Science of Physiology: Galen's Influence	125	(3)
The Military Medicine of Ancient Rome	128	(3)
Hospitals and Treatment Facilities in the Ancient World	131	(3)
Biographical Sketches	134	(14)
Biographical Mentions	148	(4)
Bibliography of Primary Sources	152	(3)
Mathematics
Chronology of Key Events	155	(1)
Overview	156	(2)
Topical Essays
Mesopotamian Mathematics	158	(4)
The Mathematics of Ancient India	162	(2)
Mayan Mathematics	164	(2)
Ancient Chinese Mathematics	166	(3)
The Moscow and Rhind Papyri	169	(2)
Early Counting and Computing Tools	171	(3)
The Philosophy of the Pythagoreans	174	(2)
The Birth of Number Theory	176	(2)
Number Systems	178	(3)
The Historical Relationship of Logic and Mathematics	181	(1)
The Three Unsolved Problems of Ancient Greece	182	(6)
The Foundations of Geometry: From Thales to Euclid	188	(3)
Advances in Algebra	191	(2)
The Development of Trigonometry	193	(3)
Eratosthenes Calculates the Circumference of the Earth	196	(2)
Roman Numerals: Their Origins, Impact, and Limitations	198	(3)
The Origins of the Zero	201	(2)
Biographical Sketches	203	(21)
Biographical Mentions	224	(7)
Bibliography of Primary Sources	231	(4)
Physical Sciences
Chronology of Key Events	235	(1)
Overview	236	(2)
Topical Essays
Contributions of the Pre-Socratics	238	(2)
Early Greek Matter Theories: The Pre-Socratics to the Stoics	240	(5)
Physical Science in India	245	(3)
Astrology and Astronomy in the Ancient World	248	(2)
Ancient Scientists Learn about the Planets	250	(3)
Development of Calendars	253	(2)
The Importance of the Eclipse in Ancient Society	255	(2)
Cosmology in the Ancient World	257	(2)
Geocentrism vs. Heliocentrism: Ancient Disputes	259	(3)
Aristotle's Chemical Theory of Elements and Substances	262	(3)
Ancient Views of Earth's Geography	265	(4)
Seismology in Ancient China	269	(3)
Aristotelian Physics	272	(2)
Biographical Sketches	274	(24)
Biographical Mentions	298	(5)
Bibliography of Primary Sources	303	(4)
Technology and Invention
Chronology of Key Events	307	(1)
Overview	308	(1)
Topical Essays
Early Agriculture and the Rise of Civilization	309	(3)
The Domestication of the Horse	312	(2)
The Domestication of Wheat and Other Crops	314	(2)
The Pyramids of Ancient Egypt	316	(4)
The Rise of Cities	320	(2)
Triumphs of Ancient Architecture and Art: The Seven Wonders and the Parthenon	322	(4)
Building an Empire and a Legacy: Roman Engineering	326	(6)
Water Management in the Ancient World	332	(3)
Architecture and Engineering on the Indian Subcontinent	335	(2)
The Impact of Mayan Architecture	337	(3)
The Great Wall of China	340	(2)
Cities of Ancient America	342	(4)
The Development of Dyes by the ``Purple People,'' the Phoenicians	346	(2)
Metallurgy through the Ages	348	(3)
The Development of Glassmaking in the Ancient World	351	(2)
Lighting the Ancient World	353	(3)
The Calendar Takes Shape in Mesopotamia	356	(2)
The First Clocks	358	(2)
Slave Labor	360	(3)
Archimedes and the Simple Machines That Moved the World	363	(3)
The Chinese Invent the Magnetic Compass	366	(2)
Development of Seagoing Vessels in the Ancient World	368	(3)
The Royal Road of Persia	371	(2)
The Building of Canals in the Ancient World	373	(2)
Roman Roads: Building, Linking, and Defending the Empire	375	(3)
Writing Preserves Knowledge and Memory	378	(5)
The Development of Writing Materials	383	(4)
The Development of Libraries in the Ancient World	387	(3)
The Development of Block Printing in China	390	(3)
The Early History of Cartography	393	(2)
Biographical Sketches	395	(15)
Biographical Mentions	410	(4)
Bibliography of Primary Sources	414	(1)
General Bibliography	415	(2)
Index	417