On Tycho's Island: Tycho Brahe, Science, and Culture in the Sixteenth Century

by John Robert Christianson

Tycho Brahe (1546-1601), the premier patron-practitioner of science in sixteenth-century Europe, established a new role of scientist as administrator, active reformer, and natural philosopher. This book explores his wide range of activities, which encompass much more than his reputed role of astronomer. Christianson broadens this singular perspective by portraying him as Platonic philosopher, Paracelsian chemist, Ovidian poet, and devoted family man. From his private island in Denmark, Tycho Brahe used patronage, printing, friendship, and marriage to incorporate men and women skilled in science, technology, and the fine arts into his program of cosmic reform. This pioneering study includes capsule biographies of two dozen individuals, including Johannes Kepler, Willebrord Snel, Willem Blaeu, several artists, two bishops, a rabbi, and various technical specialists, all of whom helped shape the culture of the Scientific Revolution. Under Tycho's leadership, their teamwork achieved breakthroughs in astronomy, scientific method, and research organization that were essential to the birth of modern science. John Robert Christianson is research professor of history at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he taught history for thirty years. In 1985, Christianson was awarded the Bronze Medal of the League of Finnish-American Societies and received the Alf Mjoen Prize in 1989. In 1995, he was dubbed Knight of the Royal Norweigian Order of Merit by King Harald II. Christianson is a former fellow of the American Council of Learned Societies and has held grants from the American Philosophical Society and the National Endowment of the Humanities, among others. He has traveled throughout Scandanavia and has written, edited, or translated several books about Scandanavia and Scandanavian-American topics, as well as articles in Scientific American, Isis, and other journals.

Genres: History, Astronomy, Biography, Science, Nonfiction, History Of Science, Renaissance

Paperback

First published December 13, 1999

Reviews

[notgettingenough · Rating 4 out of 5]

How would a 16th century Danish aristocrat set about creating Cern and how would it work, compared with the twenty-first century example down the road from where I write?

Excellent social history of the period and place. Rigorously researched and documented.

[Wendelle]

This is a very interesting book that covers the socioeconomic aspects of the achievements of Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, who contributed to revolutionizing modern science by his meticulous insistence on repeated empirical observation before arriving to scientific conclusions. Brahe is well-known for achieving this through his extensive observatory and workshop grounds at the island of Hven, where he desired to install a sort of scholarly paradise on Earth, where men could walk away with their minds less fettered, more inspired. Less discussed is how he was able to bring about such monumental solidworks and transformative administration on the island. In short, it was made possible by commandeering, conscripting, corralling, levying, the labor and material resources of residents who previously considered themselves freehold subjects of the King in a democratically run peasant village, with ownership of their lands and farms, but now found themselves perhaps dismayed and unpleasantly appropriated as the newfound subjects and mere tenants of a newly designated manorial estate, awarded to a nobleman, who had inexorable intent to restructure their way of life partly towards his scientific and engineering means and ends. Tycho was no tyrant, and the courts could overrule disputes between lord and his renters, but the question remains. Is it a better thing to let these people continue being free to lead traditional lives? Or is it better that they were marshaled towards a directive purpose, one that cost them labor and flocks and goods but vastly improved humankind's march of scientific knowledge, a true revolution mastered by Tycho Brahe? At the least, they should be included in the credits for this scientific enterprise, which this book helps to do.

[Scott Kardel · Rating 3 out of 5]

On Tycho's Island is a history of astronomy book that looks at the amazing astronomer Tycho Brahe and his island observatory. It takes a good look that the years that Tycho operated his observatory Uraniborg, but doesn't look too closely at the rest of Tycho's life. His early years are given brief treatment and his time in exile is only explored up to the time that he landed a position with the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II. Largely missing is his time with Johannes Kepler, that is unless you read the biographical entries at the end of the book. The author appended biographies of virtually all of the people mentioned in the book, sometimes with information that was relevant to the life of Tycho, but often not. I would have preferred to have more info about Tycho himself in place of all of these biographical entries but I understand the author's rationale for including it.

[Doris Raines · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LIKE THIS BOOK.

[Gary Braham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like history, and I really like astronomy, and who doesn't love the Scandanavians? For a while I feared this would be some dusty old overly academic tribute to how clever the author was kind of a biography. It's not. The author sucessfully bridges the gap of cultures and 400 years that have passed since the days of Tycho and his island.

I found myself captivated early on, when the first chapter of the book describes the patronage system of kingship and nobility of the time. Tycho was offered the life of a noble, but felt that both he and the king would be better served by pursuing the goals of science instead. He also opted to marry the woman he loved, rather than someone of his own class, causing quite a stir at the time, but makes him more of a hero to me. He had a vision of creating a center of learning, one that would bring prestige to Tycho, the King, and all of the kingdom that they served. King Fredrick II saw this too, and helped Tycho to establish his island observatory. The two would have a mutually benificial relationship for the rest of their days. Not borne out of contracts or beauracracy, but out of friendship, genuine desire to improve those themselves, those around them, their coutry, and to serve science as a whole. In that sense, progress seemed to be a less selfish thing back in those days. There were scandals and stumbles, all described in the book as well. It's fascinating to see the kinds of issues that people were dealing with back then. Such as publications being delayed due to a lack of paper, or Tycho being distracted for a year when his oldest daughters engagement is broken. All of these elements, the scientific, the mundane business of running an observatory, and the personal stories of the day, have made for a very interesting book.

If there's one thing the book is light on, it's the actual science. We read about the instruments Tycho uses, as well as the projects he works on. But most of the emphasis seems to be on the process that went into the work. Brahe's accomplishments are listed, but not really described in any great detail. As I neared the end of the book, I knew that the dates being discussed, were drawing ever nearer the date for the end of his life. His scientific world in Denmark had crumbled, and was just starting to be rebuilt in Prague. I found myself waiting for the first mentions of Kepler, and to read about their interesting relationship, as well as the authors take on Tycho's death. But neither of these subjects were dealt with in much depth. I still found the book to be very interesting, if for no other reason than to see how science and politics were managed back in the 16th century.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is every astronomer's dream. To be granted your own island, you are given unlimited funds so to be able to design, build and run your own show. Tycho Brahe, one of the most fascinating and quirky characters in the history of astronomy found himself in just this ideal position.

The island of Hven was in the middle of the Danish sound not far from the Elsinore, the stage of Hamlet's tragedy. A quiet island, Tycho was not only given the island, but he was put in charge of the people living there as well. Conscripted like Russian serfs, the villagers of Hven woke up one day to learn that a new boss was in town and they owed him two days work a week--no wages to be paid.

And so with their labor, the great building project began....

Best book on Tycho ever!

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated the focus on the Hermetic tradition and its influence on what modern Minds would call objective science. During the Scientific Revolution, magical thinking and natural philosophy play just as big of a role if not a bigger role than historians are often willing to admit.

[Mark]

I must have been in one of my "yes, esoteric science history would be really good right now" moods, but I could barely slog through the first 20 pages or so. Down for the count.

[Carl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting survey of an important place and time, but badly marred by the author's blatant favoritism towards his subject.