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The History of Science: 1700-1900
In the period 1700-1900, kings and empires rose and fell, but science conquered all, taking the world by storm. Yet, as the 1700s began, the mysteries of the universe were pondered by "natural philosophers"—the term "scientist" didn't even exist until the mid 19th century—whose explanations couldn't help but be influenced by the religious thought and political and social contexts that shaped their world.
The radical ideas of the Enlightenment were especially important and influential. In this course you see how the work of these natural philosophers prepared the way for the more familiar world of science we recognize today.
The radical ideas of the Enlightenment were especially important and influential. In this course you see how the work of these natural philosophers prepared the way for the more familiar world of science we recognize today.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 18, 2020
This series of lectures continues the story right where Lawrence Principe left off, at the turn of the 18th century. For many people interested in this subject, I suspect that the period from 1700-1900 will be intrinsically more interesting than any time that came before. After all, this was the age when the study of nature became something that we can recognize as science; and the discoveries and developments of these two years went a long way towards shaping the world as it exists now.
Frederick Gregory is a skilled presenter. His voice has a kind of jolly, avuncular lilt that helps to make a potentially forbidding subject more approachable. And he is clearly an expert in the field, particularly in the study of biology. Of course, this being a survey, Gregory cannot help but omit many things; and in general his treatment of the “softer” sciences of life and medicine are stronger than his lectures on the history of physics or chemistry. But how much can I complain? These lectures provided an accessible and enjoyable overview, and greatly helped to frame my own understanding of the subject.
Being an academic historian, Gregory’s approach is radically different from what you will find in, say, a textbook or a work of popular science. Bill Bryson, for example, covers basically this same period in the historian of science in his Short History of Nearly Everything; but that book and these lectures have very little in common. Bryson naturally focuses on the story of how we know what we know now (and the eccentric people who helped us to do it). Gregory, however, is interested in seeing trying to understand historical periods on their own terms. Like Principe, he likens the study of history to travel, and emphasizes the need to be open to other ways of thinking rather than judging other cultures with our own provincial standards.
This advice is wise, both in travel and in the study of history. And yet, I do think there is a limit to this approach. Some things really are better than others; and not only is it impossible to totally rid oneself of one’s background, at times it is not even desirable. To be concrete, I think Gregory (and Principe) should have included more about the strength of historical scientific theories. In his lectures on the history of medicine, for instance, Gregory does a wonderful job in explaining how doctors and healers were viewed at the time, and the different theories that were popular. But the listener naturally asks: Did any of it work? Do we have any information on rates of disease, successful treatment, and causes of death, and how they changed through time?
Gregory may be inclined to call such narratives ‘Whig’ history, since they treat the past as a precursor to the present. But in some cases I think the improvement has been dramatic and real. Science is, in my opinion, one of the most conspicuously successful human endeavors; and this success has taken place within the last four hundred years. Why it happened is arguably the most interesting question in the history of science. But it is hardly examined, either in Principe’s or Gregory’s lectures.
But perhaps it is unfair to criticize Gregory based on my own priorities. Seen in terms of their own values—as a historian might see them—these lectures are excellent.
Frederick Gregory is a skilled presenter. His voice has a kind of jolly, avuncular lilt that helps to make a potentially forbidding subject more approachable. And he is clearly an expert in the field, particularly in the study of biology. Of course, this being a survey, Gregory cannot help but omit many things; and in general his treatment of the “softer” sciences of life and medicine are stronger than his lectures on the history of physics or chemistry. But how much can I complain? These lectures provided an accessible and enjoyable overview, and greatly helped to frame my own understanding of the subject.
Being an academic historian, Gregory’s approach is radically different from what you will find in, say, a textbook or a work of popular science. Bill Bryson, for example, covers basically this same period in the historian of science in his Short History of Nearly Everything; but that book and these lectures have very little in common. Bryson naturally focuses on the story of how we know what we know now (and the eccentric people who helped us to do it). Gregory, however, is interested in seeing trying to understand historical periods on their own terms. Like Principe, he likens the study of history to travel, and emphasizes the need to be open to other ways of thinking rather than judging other cultures with our own provincial standards.
This advice is wise, both in travel and in the study of history. And yet, I do think there is a limit to this approach. Some things really are better than others; and not only is it impossible to totally rid oneself of one’s background, at times it is not even desirable. To be concrete, I think Gregory (and Principe) should have included more about the strength of historical scientific theories. In his lectures on the history of medicine, for instance, Gregory does a wonderful job in explaining how doctors and healers were viewed at the time, and the different theories that were popular. But the listener naturally asks: Did any of it work? Do we have any information on rates of disease, successful treatment, and causes of death, and how they changed through time?
Gregory may be inclined to call such narratives ‘Whig’ history, since they treat the past as a precursor to the present. But in some cases I think the improvement has been dramatic and real. Science is, in my opinion, one of the most conspicuously successful human endeavors; and this success has taken place within the last four hundred years. Why it happened is arguably the most interesting question in the history of science. But it is hardly examined, either in Principe’s or Gregory’s lectures.
But perhaps it is unfair to criticize Gregory based on my own priorities. Seen in terms of their own values—as a historian might see them—these lectures are excellent.
January 5, 2016
This was a great lecture series. I could not have asked for more. Gregory provided an extremely thorough history, which was delivered in an accessible and optimally organized way. Fantastic!
February 19, 2025
(Maybe a 4/5)
To someone unfamiliar with science, a lot of the historical figures mentioned in here could come across as just ‘one of many’ when in reality their contributions were colossal. I think the most obvious example is the treatment of Maxwell, who is covered a lot obviously due to his contributions, but it’s the weight of his contributions that aren’t communicated with enough emphasis. If the author had just taken a second to note the stereotypical hierarchy often assigned to the historical giants in physics (usually something like Newton > Einstein > Maxwell) this could have been avoided and the listener would know to recognise him as one of the standouts worth paying extra attention to. No one will read this. Would also love if Goodreads would include the attached pdf in the page count as it’s over 200 pages and I did read quite a bit of it. Every audiobook I log demolishes my ‘average pages read’ in the end-of-year summary ;-;
To someone unfamiliar with science, a lot of the historical figures mentioned in here could come across as just ‘one of many’ when in reality their contributions were colossal. I think the most obvious example is the treatment of Maxwell, who is covered a lot obviously due to his contributions, but it’s the weight of his contributions that aren’t communicated with enough emphasis. If the author had just taken a second to note the stereotypical hierarchy often assigned to the historical giants in physics (usually something like Newton > Einstein > Maxwell) this could have been avoided and the listener would know to recognise him as one of the standouts worth paying extra attention to. No one will read this. Would also love if Goodreads would include the attached pdf in the page count as it’s over 200 pages and I did read quite a bit of it. Every audiobook I log demolishes my ‘average pages read’ in the end-of-year summary ;-;
September 26, 2015
4* History of Science 1700 - 1900 - The Teaching Company
5* History of the English Language
TR Classic Novels: Meeting the Challenge of Great Literature
OH Lost Worlds of South America
4* The Vikings
5* From Monet To Van Gogh: A History Of Impressionism
3* A History of Russia: From Peter the Great to Gorbachev
OH A History of England from the Tudors to the Stuarts
4* Myth in Human History
5* London: A Short History of the Greatest City in the Western World
TR Great Authors of the Western Literary Tradition
TR The Late Middle Ages
OH Rome And The Barbarians: Parts I, II, & III VHS and Books
2* Medieval Heroines in History and Legend (Parts 1 & 2)
TR Apocalypse: Controversies and Meaning in Western History
TR Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon
TR Albert Einstein: Physicist, Philosopher, Humanitarian
TR Will to Power: The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche
OH History of Science: Antiquity to 1700
TR The Early Middle Ages
TR The Skeptic’s Guide to the Great Books
TR Secrets of Sleep Science: From Dreams to Disorders
TR Turning Points in Modern Times: Essays on German and European History
4* Rethinking Our Past: Recognizing Facts, Fictions, And Lies In American History
January 12, 2016
A great course on the development of ideas and its supporters and detractors. The utopian idea of a cohesive "science" is not only a misnomer but it betrays the complex and dogmatic nature of inquiry in the field of natural sciences. Gregory demonstrates that the modern notion of a scientific worldview is not based on the historical facts of the complex interplay of various fields of study but merely a dogmatic desire to see the world in a certain way. Highly recommended!
July 6, 2019
Excellent. Clearly and concisely presented.
December 28, 2023
In 2003 University of Florida Prof Frederick Gregory released through the Teaching Company a 18 hour 36 lecture course about “The History of Science 1700 to 1900.” The course is exceptional. It is divided into three parts. Part 1 features the European scientific exploration of 18th century theories of Newton, Lavoisier, and French chemists. These lectures are followed by a set of Part 2 lectures about science discoveries associated with Darwinism, theological/science controversies, and human society struggle for existence and electromagnetism theories . The last 12 lectures in the course feature the understandings of scientists from the last five decades of the 19th century. These part 3 lectures cover thermodynamics, molecular mechanics, and the interplay between scientific speculations about extra terrestrial life and astronomical physics of the late 1800’s. I found the presentations very insightful; and the course guidebook for the 36 lectures easy to read and exceptionally well done. (P)
December 31, 2021
Excellent lectures on the history of European science from 1700-1900. Several important themes, including the push/pull of new ideas from younger generations, the constant influence of moral opinions/religion into scientific advances, and the importance of not being arrogant in order to help one's ideas spread. Gregory has a pleasant voice and seriousness about their subject. I listened to these while I was doing childcare and I found it was a good mix of okay to miss a few words while still being more technical than most pop-science books.
February 8, 2022
Long & overall a fascinating course that I should probably revisit at some point. Covers Darwin in adequate detail. It was interesting to hear about how ideas like the heat death of the universe, evolution and clockwork universe came to be as well as to chart how our understanding of the age of the earth developed.
April 6, 2022
This is a very thorough explanation of the major scientific discoveries of the 18th and 19th centuries. However, be forewarned...many of the explanations are detailed and intricate, not for casual listening.
February 25, 2018
This 212 page course guide and 36 lecture audio series comprise an excellent survey of 18th and 19th century science. Interesting, informative, comprehensive.
July 31, 2015
This was an excellent summary of science and highlights of major milestones in scientific discoveries throughout the 1700 & 1800's. Prof. Gregory has put together an incredible lecture series that provides the audience with an illustrative narrative that did not feel like reading through a dull history book, but instead felt like a moving story with key players.
Something unexpected was that he was able to work into his narrative the religious perspectives of nearly every philosopher and scientist that was highlighted. One key factor I gained from this presentation was how easy we tend to overlook religious and cultural differences when studying history, and I am guilty of this myself, but rarely do I ever consider the historical figure's time as it was relative to their way of thinking. As Prof. Gregory points out, we tend to apply our own prejudices and understanding on people of the past and ask why how they did or why they did not arrive at the "obvious" conclusions for areas that have since been made well known to us.
Overall, this was an incredible series on the history of science and truly covered all aspects of the major disciplines: astronomy, biology, geology, physics, medicine, etc.
Pros: the religious perspective offered with each influential scientist/philosopher
Cons: would have been interesting to keep going into the 1900's; however I recognize that for scope (and length) purposes this was not feasible.
Bottom line: a great read for anyone interested in the realm of science or anyone who as ever questioned how we ever got to our present day understanding.
Something unexpected was that he was able to work into his narrative the religious perspectives of nearly every philosopher and scientist that was highlighted. One key factor I gained from this presentation was how easy we tend to overlook religious and cultural differences when studying history, and I am guilty of this myself, but rarely do I ever consider the historical figure's time as it was relative to their way of thinking. As Prof. Gregory points out, we tend to apply our own prejudices and understanding on people of the past and ask why how they did or why they did not arrive at the "obvious" conclusions for areas that have since been made well known to us.
Overall, this was an incredible series on the history of science and truly covered all aspects of the major disciplines: astronomy, biology, geology, physics, medicine, etc.
Pros: the religious perspective offered with each influential scientist/philosopher
Cons: would have been interesting to keep going into the 1900's; however I recognize that for scope (and length) purposes this was not feasible.
Bottom line: a great read for anyone interested in the realm of science or anyone who as ever questioned how we ever got to our present day understanding.
March 21, 2020
Gregory does an admirable job of an impossible task. To cover two centuries of science in a single course, even one as long as this one, inevitably leaves out important topics and skims others. Nevertheless, this is an excellent introduction requiring no background in science. In fact, for me, I often wished that he would delve a little more deeply into the technical problems instead of assuming that his audience was made up of undergraduates requiring a science distribution course.
Although the course occasionally wanders into consideration of the society at large, in particular during the section on evolution, and acknowledges the messy origins of thermodynamics, but mostly stays to the traditional march of great men. Gregory does display considerable interest in the interaction between science and religion, in particular the ways in which religious beliefs stimulated science instead of opposing it.
Although the course occasionally wanders into consideration of the society at large, in particular during the section on evolution, and acknowledges the messy origins of thermodynamics, but mostly stays to the traditional march of great men. Gregory does display considerable interest in the interaction between science and religion, in particular the ways in which religious beliefs stimulated science instead of opposing it.
July 28, 2013
A nice general overview.
February 25, 2015
Makes you crave for more ....
August 21, 2015
Solid set of lectures. I liked about 2/3 of the course, the last third got a bit tiresome.
April 13, 2017
Since before science was science, it was natural philosophy, there was a lot of philosophy in this history. This was incredibly interesting and well presented.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews