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This encyclopedia is the perfect guide to the weird, magical,
superstitious, and supernatural beliefs of people from all over the
world. This book is devoted to those human beliefs that fall in the
"gray zone" between science, religion, and everyday life—call
them superstitious, supernatural, magical, or just wrong. In an
often incomprehensible world where lightning or plague could end
life quickly or drought could condemn a poor family to agonizing
death, superstitious beliefs gave people a feeling of understanding
or even control. They have continued to shape societies and
cultures ever since. This book covers a range of superstitious,
supernatural, and otherwise unusual beliefs from the ancient world
to the early 19th century. More than 100 entries explain beliefs,
discuss historical evidence, and explain how each belief differs
across cultures. This book is a perfect gateway for anyone curious
about superstitious and magical beliefs, with topics ranging from
the everyday, such as dogs and iron, to legendary figures, such as
Hermes Trismegistus and the Yellow Emperor.
The first introductory A–Z resource on the dynamic achievements
in science from the late 1600s to 1820, including the great minds
behind the developments and science's new cultural role. Though the
Enlightenment was a time of amazing scientific change, science is
an often-neglected facet of that time. Now, Science in the
Enlightenment redresses the balance by covering all the major
scientific developments in the period between Newton's discoveries
in the late 1600s to the early 1800s of Michael Faraday and Georges
Cuvier. Over 200 A-Z entries explore a range of disciplines,
including astronomy and medicine, scientists such as Sir Humphry
Davy and Benjamin Franklin, and instruments such as the telescope
and calorimeter. Emphasis is placed on the role of women, and
proper attention is given to the shifts in the worldview brought
about by Newtonian physics, Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier's "chemical
revolution," and universal systems of botanical and zoological
classification. Moreover, the social impact of science is explored,
as well as the ways in which the work of scientists influenced the
thinking of philosophers such as Voltaire and Denis Diderot and the
writers and artists of the romantic movement.
Based on the most recent scholarship, this book provides students
and interested lay readers with a basic introduction to key facts
and current controversies concerning the Enlightenment. One of the
most significant developments in world history, the Enlightenment
transformed Europe by promoting reason over faith and advancing
skepticism, the scientific method, and intellectual inquiry. It
reshaped political and cultural history and formed the foundation
for many of today's institutions. The Enlightenment: History,
Documents, and Key Questions is a one-stop reference that serves
high school and undergraduate students in learning about the
background of the Enlightenment. The book also provides readers
with key insights into the distant origins of American democracy
and technology-based innovation. The text's coverage of the
Enlightenment from the late 17th century to the late 18th century
in both Europe and its American colonies supports Common Core
critical thinking skills for English Language Arts/World History
and Social Studies. The inclusion of primary source documents and
original argumentative essays work in conjunction with secondary
material such as topical entries to engage readers' minds and to
give them a fuller understanding the myriad factors that led to the
Enlightenment as well as its lasting effects. Provides the
Enlightenment in various formats, thereby enabling students to
better understand and fully appreciate its causes and effects
Develops critical thinking skills through the interplay of primary
and secondary sources Includes argumentative essays that showcase
the diversity of informed opinions on the modern Enlightenment
Supports NCHS World History content standards for Era 6, Standard
2E
An encyclopedic collection of key scientists and the tools and
concepts they developed that transformed our understanding of the
physical world. Many are familiar with the ideas of Copernicus,
Descartes, and Galileo. But here the reader is also introduced to
lesser known ideas and contributors to the Scientific Revolution,
such as the mathematical Bernoulli Family and Andreas Vesalius,
whose anatomical charts revolutionized the study of the human body.
More marginal characters include the magician Robert Fludd. The
encyclopedia also discusses subjects like Arabic science and the
bizarre history of blood transfusions, and institutions like the
Universities of Padua and Leiden, which were dominant forces in
academic medicine and science. Includes over 200 A-Z entries
covering topics ranging from Gregorian reform of the calendar to
Thomas Hobbes, navigation, thermometers, and the trial of Galileo
Provides a chronology of the scientific revolution from the
founding of the Casa de la Contratacion, a repository of
navigational and cartographic knowledge, in 1503, to the death of
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek in 1727
Science and technology are central to history of the United States,
and this is true of the Colonial period as well. Although
considered by Europeans as a backwater, the people living in the
American colonies had advanced notions of agriculture, surveying,
architecture, and other technologies. In areas of "natural
philosophy"--what we call science--such figures as Benjamin
Franklin were admired and respected in the scientific capitals of
Europe. This book covers all aspects of how science and technology
impacted the everyday life of Americans of all classes and
cultures. Science and Technology in Everyday Life in Colonial
America covers a wide range of topics that will interest students
of American history and the history of science and technology: *
Domestic technology--how colonial women devised new strategies for
day-to-day survival * Agricultural--how Native Americans and
African slaves influenced the development of a American system of
agriculture * War--how the frequent battles during the colonial
period changed how industry made consumer goods This volume
includes myriad examples of the impact science and technology had
on the lives of individual who lived in the New World.
From early sorcery trials of the 14th century--associated primarily
with French and Papal courts--to the witch executions of the late
18th century, this book's entries cover witch-hunting in individual
countries, major witch trials from Chelmsford, England, to Salem,
Massachusetts, and significant individuals from famous witches to
the devout persecutors. Entries such as the evil eye, familiars,
and witch-finders cover specific aspects of the witch-hunting
process, while entries on writers and modern interpretations
provide insight into the current thinking on early modern witch
hunts. From the wicked witch of children's stories to Halloween and
present-day Wiccan groups, witches and witchcraft still fascinate
observers of Western culture. Witches were believed to affect
climatological catastrophes, put spells on their neighbors, and
cavort with the devil. In early modern Europe and the Americas,
witches and witch-hunting were an integral part of everyday life,
touching major events such as the Reformation and the Scientific
Revolution, as well as politics, law, medicine, and culture.
Alphabetically arranged entries cover the history of astrology from
ancient Mesopotamia to the 21st century. In addition to surveying
the Western tradition, the book explores Islamic, Indian, East
Asian, and Mesoamerican astrology. The field of astrology is
growing rapidly, as historians recognize its centrality to the
intellectual life of the past and sociologists and anthropologists
treat its importance in a number of modern cultures. Despite the
historical and cultural significance of the subject, most reference
works on astrology focus on instructional techniques and are
written by astrologers with little or no interest in the history of
the topic. This book instead offers an objective treatment of
astrology across world history from ancient Mesopotamia to the
present. The book provides alphabetically arranged entries by
expert contributors writing on such topics as horoscopes, court
astrologers, Renaissance astrology, and comets. While it considers
the Western tradition, it also treats Islamic, Indian, East Asian,
and Mesoamerican astrology. In doing so, it explores the role of
astrology in shaping science, literature, religion, art, and other
defining cultural traditions. Sidebars offer excerpts from various
historical texts, while entries provide suggestions for further
reading. Provides alphabetically arranged reference entries that
delineate the historical and cultural significance of astrology
from ancient Mesopotamia to the present Directs users to additional
sources of information via entry bibliographies Offers sidebars
offer additional facts from primary source documents Incorporates a
timeline to help readers to place astrological developments in
chronological context Features an introductory essay for a
narrative overview of the history of astrology, priming readers on
its cultural relevance
This encyclopedia offers an interdisciplinary approach to studying
science and technology within the context of world history. With
balanced coverage, a logical organization, and in-depth entries,
readers of all inclinations will find useful and interesting
information in its contents. Science and Technology in World
History takes a truly global approach to the subjects of science
and technology and spans the entirety of recorded human history.
Topical articles and entries on the subjects are arranged under
thematic categories, which are divided further into chronological
periods. This format, along with the encyclopedia's integrative
approach, offers an array of perspectives that collectively
contribute to the understanding of numerous fields across the world
and over eras of development. Entries cover discussions of
scientific and technological innovations and theories, historical
vignettes, and important texts and individuals throughout the
world. From the discovery of fire and the innovation of
agricultural methods in China to the establishment of surgical
practices in France and the invention of Quantum Theory, this
encyclopedia offers comprehensive coverage of fascinating topics in
science and technology through a straightforward, historical lens.
Provides readers with a multicultural view of the evolution of
science and technology from prehistory to the present Covers both
scientific theory and practical technology Encourages readers to
think about science and technology in historical terms Places
current conditions within a broad historical framework
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