Landmarks in the History of Science

Landmarks in the History of Science is a concise history of science from a global and macro-historical standpoint. It is an account of grand theoretical revolutions, such as heliocentrism, atomism, and relativity. But, more importantly, it is also a story of the methodological transitions to the experimental, mathematical, constructivist and instrumental practices of science.
It begins with Ancient Greek science, as one of the first self-conscious, comprehensive and well-documented scientific endeavors at the global level. The numerous contributions of the Greeks, in philosophy, mathematics, geometry, geography and astronomy, momentous as they were, were fruits of leisure rather than industry. It then examines the history of science in China and China’s exchanges with India and Islam. A systematic and collaborative scientific effort is the hallmark of Chinese science. The contributions of the Chinese in medicine, printing, manufacturing and navigation invariably predate and outshine those of western contemporaries.
Attention then shifts to the age of oceanic discoveries, which created the inexorable presuppositions for the genesis of global trade and a world system. From the inner organs of the organisms to the outer regions of Earth, Renaissance science was ubiquitous. The importance of inter-cultural scientific syncretism is highlighted, with the Iberian Peninsula as meeting point and crossroad of mutual affection between Arab, Jewish and European culture. Discoveries and inventions in metallurgy, electromagnetism and the science of petroleum set the scientific basis for the industrial revolution. The logic of the industrial revolution dictates developments in information technologies that culminate with the invention of modern computers. A dedicated chapter on the history of modern scientific conceptions of the universe showcases the subtle links in the fabric of seminal ideas in physics and astronomy. The book concludes with some reflections on the relationship between philosophy and the history of science. Following Kuhn and Latour, this discussion centers on the characteristics of continuities, ruptures and paradigmatic transitions in science.

Foreword

An introduction to Ancient Greek Science
Plato and Aristotle upon truth and Ethics
Scientific topics in antiquity: measurement, experiment and construction
Mathematical Astronomy
Rhetorical and political sites
Alexandrian Renaissance

Earlier than Western Science: knowledge in transcultural historical settings
Reports on Chinese Science
Exchanges and diaspora
The Islamic transfers of the traditional science
The transition to the Modern Era

The age of the oceanic discoveries
Sea passages
Ships and shipbuilding
Colonialist competition and utilitarianism
Scientific discoveries, telescopes, clocks and longitude
The rise of the Atlantic World

Material science and culture
Mine engineering and mineralogy in Early Modern Europe
Studies of magnetism
Magnetism and electricity

The petroleum pioneers in the age of illumination
Research on petroleum
Oil in Arabia
The international petroleum sector at the end of the twentieth century
Energy science and technology issues

Computer generations
Charles Babbage and the development of computational technology
The emergence of the computer industry
Algorithms and their power
Innovation in the age of Technoscience
Work, technology and Human-Machine Interaction
The Human-Machine Interaction in future smart societies

Scientific conceptions of the Universe
Space and time as relations

Philosophy and History of Science
Continuities, ruptures and transitions

Basil Evangelidis is a researcher of the History and Philosophy of Science. His focus and research interests lie in the history of science, philosophy, economic history, technology, petroleum, railways, oceanic discoveries, electrification, education, and urbanization. Evangelidis studied Philosophy and Pedagogy at Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece (1995); History and Philosophy of Science (Masters and PhD) at National Technical University and National Kapodistrian University of Athens (2012); Special Education Needs at Liverpool John Moores University (Masters), and is now studying History and Philosophy of Science at Leiden University. His research experience includes employment in manuscript digitization, industrial archaeology, and history of the public power company in Greece.