The Oxford Illustrated History of Science

Surprisingly, this book claims to be the first fully illustrated global history of science, and is written by leading experts in the field. It is an excellent volume in two parts: the first is about origins of science in various parts of the world. This covers the eastern Mediterranean, ancient China, mediaeval Christian and Islamic science, science in the pre-modern East, the scientific revolution of the 17th century, and Enlightenment science. The authors relate the development of science to social conditions as well as to the overall definitions and shifts in world view. It is fundamentally the story of how we have tried to make sense of the world, and it is interesting to see the role played historically by astrology in various different cultures, which compares with sympathetic magic. Universities emerged at a time when the curriculum was still dominated by Aristotle as well as the Church, but they gradually became more autonomous and important centres for scientific development associated with questioning traditional authority. Patrons also played a significant role before the more widespread availability of public funding for science in the 19th century. The second part is about the practical aspects of science - including medicine - and the institutions and communities that have developed. It includes chapters on fieldwork, the changing definition of life, mapping the universe cosmologically, the role of theory, and the ways in which science has been communicated. Theoretical differences, such as between Einstein and Bohr, have given rise to widespread debates as we try to formulate a more unified and coherent vision, while accommodating new forms of knowledge and research. The possibilities for communicating science have of course expanded enormously, but so has the complexity and extent along with accompanying ethical issues. This is a highly readable and informative volume.