Science and Technology in World History: An Introduction

by James E. McClellan, Harold Dorn

Arguably the best general history of science and technology ever published. Tracing the relationship between science and technology from the dawn of civilization to the early twenty-first century, James E. McClellan III and Harold Dorn’s bestselling book argues that technology as “applied science” emerged relatively recently, as industry and governments began funding scientific research that would lead directly to new or improved technologies. McClellan and Dorn identify two great scientific traditions: the useful sciences, which societies patronized from time immemorial, and the exploration of questions about nature itself, which the ancient Greeks originated. The authors examine scientific traditions that took root in China, India, and Central and South America, as well as in a series of Near Eastern empires in late antiquity and the Middle Ages. From this comparative perspective, McClellan and Dorn survey the rise of the West, the Scientific Revolution of the seventeenth century, the Industrial Revolution, and the modern marriage of science and technology. They trace the development of world science and technology today while raising provocative questions about the sustainability of industrial civilization. This new edition of Science and Technology in World History offers an enlarged thematic introduction and significantly extends its treatment of industrial civilization and the technological supersystem built on the modern electrical grid. The Internet and social media receive increased attention. Facts and figures have been thoroughly updated and the work includes a comprehensive Guide to Resources, incorporating the major published literature along with a vetted list of websites and Internet resources for students and lay readers.

Genres: History, Science, Technology, History Of Science, Nonfiction, Textbooks, World History

552 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main thesis of this book is to show how technology and science developed largely independently of each other throughout almost all of history. Science and Technology in World Literally is quite literally an undergraduate course book. In view of the complexity of the subject matter, I found this to be a boon rather then hindrance. The authors do an amazing job summarizing complex material.

SciTechinWorHis (my abbreviation for the lengthy title) begins with a survey of the "pristine" civiliastions of earth: the middle east, india, china, south america, central america.. and... uh that's it. These are alll the original civilisations who started raising crops. The authors point out at that all of these civilisations were empires that built large hydraulic projects to help raise more food. Most of them also built large monuments (the pyramids in egypt). In these "prisitine" civilisations, the central government used "scientists" for calendar purposes. "Technology" was made these civilisation's possible in the first place- farming improvements and the maniuplation of water to supply large urban populations. In these pristine civilisations science was sponosored by the emperor to achieve practical ends. Technology enabled these civilisations in the first place. And so, technology precedes science. Indeed, technology is one of the things that makes us "human" whereas "science" only comes into play AFTER civilisation and "history" begin.

In that way, the authors make the point- right at the beginning- that technology is quite central to being human, whereas science requires some form of organization.

After running through Egypt, Mesopatamia, India, China, The Aztecs and the Inca, he moves into the "greek miracle" and we are off to the races. After the multi cultural preamble, the book gets locked on europe and chapter by chapter we move through greece, to rome, to the middle ages, to the scientific revolution. Two hundred pages and nine chapters in, this book settles into chapters consisting of mini bios: Copernicus, Galileo, Newton. Then with the advent of the industrial revolution, they march through the "modern" period. Throughout the writing is crisp, and as a non-science type, I found this book quite useful as a survey and introduction to the subject.

[Joel Marji · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting topic

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Science in technology a world History by James McClellan provides a summary overview of how science has evolved from the time of spoken language, fire, stone and bronze to astronomy, Aristotle, Newtonian physics and eventually the nuclear age. In addition o a discourse in scientific theory and accumulation of knowledge this book also at a high tracks technological improvements from the printing press, to the phonogram, moving pictures, and eventually the computer age. His writing style is crisp and he keeps the topic moving sometimes leaving you wishing for a deeper dive but there is a great reference section a the end for further review of topics. It may be that I have read so many other books on the history of technology and less on history of science that I really enjoyed the discourse on science in this book. The accumulation of human knowledge and the sudden emergence across the globe in Maya, Inca, China, Europe and the middle east in canal building with no contact with one another is very fascinating. Overall this book is exactly what it says it is and if you are interested int hat survey of scientific knowledge and technology you will not be disappointed.

[Wisdom muro shoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Technology

[Kemonjie2gmail.com · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

[Gizemdak]

ı read it please

[Nish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good survey managing to compress science and technology from ape to Manhattan project in around 450 pages. Obviously precision suffers given the vastness of the subject but the book's innovative approach lies in explaining non-Western traditions contributions to the scientific enterprise; I especially liked the Muslim and Chinese technologies sections. The ending is scant though historically (uniformly distributed in time) the distribution of technology is reverse-Pareto (we are living in the explosion though only around 40 pages of the book are devoted to "modern technology").

[John Devlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lavish book that explores the burgeoning scientific thought in Europe and elsewhere.

[Emre Karadeniz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the few books which have a great influence over me.

[Lette Hass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro obligatorio y atrayente!!!
Recomendación especial, capítulo 13: "God said, Let Newton be!"