ISBN The Scientific Revolution: A Very Short Introduction 168 pages English

The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries witnessed such fervent investigations of the natural world that the period has been called the 'Scientific Revolution.' New ideas and discoveries not only redefined what human beings believed knew and could do but also forced them to redefine themselves with respect to the strange new worlds revealed by ships and scalpels telescopes and microscopes experimentation and contemplation. Driven by religious devotion by practical need by the promise of fame and profit or by the simple desire to know a broad range of thinkers and workers explored and reconceptualized the world around them. Explanatory systems were made discarded and remade by some of the best-known names in the entire history of science - Copernicus Galileo Newton - and by many others less recognized but no less important. In this Very Short Introduction Lawrence M. Principe explores the exciting developments in the sciences of the stars (astronomy astrology and cosmology) the sciences of earth (geography geology hydraulics pneumatics) the sciences of matter and motion (alchemy chemistry kinematics physics) the sciences of life (medicine anatomy biology zoology) and much more. The story is told from the perspective of the historical characters themselves emphasizing their background context reasoning and motivations and dispelling well-worn myths about the history of science. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.