Science and Technology in World History: An Introduction

by James E. McClellan, Harold Dorn

"Science has become so identified with practical benefits that the dependence of technology on science is commonly assumed to be a timeless relationship and a single enterprise... That belief, however, is an artifact of twentieth-century cultural attitudes superimposed without warrant on the historical record." -- from Science and Technology in World An Introduction In modern industrial society, the tie between science and technology seems clear, even inevitable. But historically, as James E. McClellan III and Harold Dorn remind us, the connection has been far less apparent. For much of human history, technology depended more on the innovation of skilled artisans than it did on the speculation of scientists. Technology as "applied science," the authors argue, emerged relatively recently, as industry and governments began funding scientific research that would lead directly to new or improved technologies. In Science and Technology in World History, McClellan and Dorn offer an introduction to this changing relationship. McClellan and Dorn review the historical record beginning with the thinking and tool making of prehistoric humans. Neolithic people, for example, developed metallurgy of a sort, using naturally occurring raw copper, and kept systematic records of the moon's phases. Neolithic craftsmen possessed practical knowledge of the behavior of clay, fire, and other elements of their environment, but though they may have had explanations for the phenomena of their crafts, they toiled without any systematic science of materials or the self-conscious application of theory to practice. McClellan and Dorn identify two great scientific the useful sciences, patronized by the state from the dawn of civilization, and scientific theorizing, initiated by the ancient Greeks. Theirs is a survey of the historical twists and turns of these traditions, leading to the science of our own day. Without neglecting important figures of Western science such as Newton and Einstein, the authors demonstrate the great achievements of non-Western cultures. They remind us that scientific traditions took root in China, India, and Central and South America, as well as in a series of Near Eastern empires, during late antiquity and the Middle Ages, including the vast region that formed the Islamic conquest. From this comparative perspective, the authors explore the emergence of Europe as a scientific and technological power. Continuing their narrative through the Manhattan Project, NASA, and modern medical research, the authors weave the converging histories of science and technology into an integrated, perceptive, and highly readable narrative.

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

416 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!"