A comprehensive A–Z resource chronicling over 4,000 years of scientific thought in the ancient Mediterranean and Near East, this book offers a complete overview of the physical, chemical, life, medical, and social sciences of the classical world.While many know of steam power and the idea that the planets orbit the Sun, few realize the ancient Greeks understood these concepts over 2,000 years ago. Now, Science in the Ancient World fills this gap by covering all the major scientific developments during 4,000 years of ancient history.With over 150 entries, this work explores the origins of science, from astronomy and mathematics to medicine and chemistry. Giants like Aristotle and Plato are examined, together with more obscure figures like Nearchus, explorer of the Indian Ocean, and Hero, discoverer of steam power. Emphasis is placed on the diversity of ancient science, from the achievements of the Mesopotamians to the science of the Romans. The philosophies behind ancient science are explored, from the Epicurean pursuit of happiness to the asceticism of the Stoics. This comprehensive survey brings to the modern reader a long lost age of scientific discovery.
Russell M. Lawson is a professor at Tulsa Community College, USA, and the author or editor of five encyclopedias. A specialist in intellectual and scientific history, he has also written numerous works on exploration and early American science.
IntroductionAAcademyAelian, Claudius (floruit early third century CE)Agathemerus (floruit first century CE)AgricultureAlcmaeon (floruit early sixth century BCE)Alexander of Macedon (356–323 BCE)AlexandriaAmmianus Marcellinus (325–395 CE)Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (500–428 BCE)Anaximander of Miletus (610–540 BCE)Anaximenes of Miletus (585–525 BCE)Apollonius of Perga (floruit 235 BCE)Archelaus of Athens (floruit fifth century BCE)Archimedes (287–212 BCE)Aristarchus of Samos (310–230 BCE)Aristotle (384–322 BCE)Arrian (89–180 CE)Asclepiades (floruit first century BCE)Asclepius/AsclepiadsAsia, East and SouthAstronomyAthenaeus (floruit early third century CE)AthensAtomsAurelius, Marcus (121–180 CE)Aurelius Augustine (354–430 CE)BBabylonBronze Age (3500–800 BCE)CCaesar, Julius (100–44 BCE)Calendars and Dating SystemsCato, Marcus Porcius (Elder) (234–149 BCE)Celsus (floruit 25 CE)Cicero (106–43 BCE)Columella (5 BCE–60 CE)CommentatorsConstantinopleConstellationsDDemocritus (460–370 BCE)Diogenes Laertius (floruit third century CE)Diogenes of Apollonia (floruit late fifth century BCE)DreamsEEasterEgyptEleatic SchoolElementsEmpedocles (495–435 BCE)Engineering and TechnologyEpictetus (55–135 CE)EpicureanismEpicurus (341–271 BCE)Erasistratus (275–194 BCE)Eratosthenes (276–195 BCE)Euclid (floruit 300 BCE)Eudoxus of Cnidus (408–352 BCE)Eunapius (floruit fifth century CE)FFrontinus, Sextus Julius (floruit late first century and early second century CE)GGalen (130–200 CE)GazaGeminus (floruit first century CE)Geography/GeodesyGreek Archaic Age (800–500 BCE)Greek Classical Age (500–323 BCE)Greek Hellenistic Age (323–31 BCE)HHecataeus of Miletus (floruit 500 BCE)Hellanicus of Lesbos (floruit fifth century BCE)HellenismHeraclides of Pontus (floruit fourth century BCE)Heraclitus of Ephesus (540–480 BCE)Hero (62–152 CE)Herodotus of Halicarnassus (490–430 BCE)Herophilus of Chalcedon (floruit third century BCE)Hesiod (floruit late eighth century BCE)Hipparchus (190–120 BCE)Hippo of Croton (floruit late fifth century BCE)Hippocrates (460–377 BCE)HistoryHomer (floruit eighth century BCE)HydraulicsHypatia of Alexandria (370–415 CE)IIamblichus (250–325 CE)IoniansIron AgeIrrigation TechniquesJJulian (331–363 CE)LLater Roman Empire (180–565 CE)Leucippus (floruit fifth century BCE)Life SciencesLogosLucretius (floruit first century BCE)LyceumMMagiMagicMagna GraeciaMarine ScienceMathematicsMaximus of Ephesus (floruit fourth century CE)MedicineMesopotamia (3500–550 BCE)MeteorologyMiletusMilitary ScienceMountainsMythNNearchus of Crete (ca. 360–312 BCE)NeoplatonismNew TestamentOOld Testament (Hebrew Bible)Oribasius (floruit fourth century CE)PPaganismPalladius (floruit midfourth century BCE)Peripatetic SchoolPhilo of Byzantium (260–180 BCE)Philolaus (floruit fifth century BCE)PhilosophyPhilostratus (170–250 CE)PhoeniciansPhysical SciencesPlato (427–347 BCE)Pliny the Elder (23–79 CE)Pliny the Younger (61–113 CE)Plotinus (205–270 CE)Plutarch (46–120 CE)Polybius (208–126 BCE)Porphyry (234–305 CE)Posidonius of Rhodes (135–50 BCE)PrometheusPsychologyPtolemaeus, Claudius (100–170 CE)Pythagoras (570–490 BCE)Pytheas of Massilia (floruit late fourth century BCE)RRoman Principate (31 BCE–180 CE)Roman Roads and BridgesRomeSSeneca, Lucius Annaeus (5–65 CE)Seven SagesSeven Wonders of the Ancient WorldSocial SciencesSocrates (470–399 BCE)Solon (640–560 BCE)StoicismStrabo (63 BCE–21 CE)TTacitus (56–117 CE)Thales (625–545 BCE)Themistius (317–388 CE)Theophrastus (370–286 BCE)Thucydides (460–400 BCE)TimeVVarro (116–27 BCE)VesuviusVitruvius (floruit 25 BCE)WWomen and ScienceXXenophanes of Colophon (570–478 BCE)Xenophon (430–355 BCE)ChronologyBibliographyIndexAbout the Author
With its accessible A–Z format, Science in the Ancient World is recommended for high school, college, and public libraries.