Science and Technology in World History : An Introduction

An introduction to the changing relationship between science and technology. The authors demonstrate that the tie between science and technology has not always been apparent, and that for much of human history, technology depended more upon the innovation of skilled artisans than it did on the speculation of scientists. James McClellan and Harold Dorn review the historical record from the beginning, with the thinking and tool-making of prehistoric humans. They identify two great scientific traditions: 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, they 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 narrative.