Science and Technology in World History: An Introduction (Paperback)

~ (Author), Harold Dorn (Author) "Scholars customarily draw a sharp distinction between prehistory and history..." (more)
Key Phrases: industrial intensification, pristine civilizations, phlogiston chemistry, Middle Ages, Royal Society, South America (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This historical account achieves its basic aim of demonstrating that, with the exception of quite recent history, technology has always influenced science, not the other way round." -- Nature

"If I could attach bells and whistles and flashing lights to this review I would do so because McClellan and Dorn's book deserves to be brought to the attention of all professional historians -- and indeed the general reading public -- by any means necessary." -- Canadian Journal of History/Annales canadiennes d'histoire

"Inclusive and straightforward." -- Technology and Culture

"This is one of few books that tackle both the history of science and the history of technology, and most notably presents them in a global context." -- Suzanne Moon, Colorado School of Mines

"This unusual work enables students to understand some large-scale patterns in history and the ways in which investigations into nature fit into those patterns." -- Barbara J. Reeves, Virginia Tech

Review

"Professors McClellan and Dorn have written a survey that does not present the historical development of science simply as a Western phenomenon but as the result of wide-ranging human curiosity about nature and attempts to harness its powers in order to serve human needs. This is an impressive amount of material to organize in a single textbook." -- Paula Findlen, Stanford University

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press; 2nd edition (April 14, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801883601
• ISBN-13: 978-0801883606
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.9 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #136,806 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History Through Science and Technology, October 13, 2002

By	John D. Cofield - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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This review is from: Science and Technology in World History: An Introduction (Paperback)

This is an ambitious study of human history through its scientific and technological development. It begins with prehistoric times and ends with the many accomplishments of the late twentieth century. No area of the world is neglected, with much attention paid to the great civilizations of Asia in particular. There are also many mini-biographies of such worthies as Copernicus, Newton, Galileo, Edison, etc. which place them in the context of their time and the overall theme of technological development. The book is scholarly but not dry. Attempts have been made to appeal to the laymen through notes on "Cool Websites" and the like, and this is successful. Its a good overview of world history from a less than usual angle.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding book, except..., January 9, 2004

By	Anthony Millevolte (Rice Lake, WI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Science and Technology in World History: An Introduction (Paperback)

I agree with the previous reviewers on their accessment of the book--with the exception of the very last part of it. In fact, the chapter on modern physics has so many mistakes that it is almost rendered unusable, which is odd because the quality of the rest of the book is so high.

I wouldn't expect that two authors would be able to pull off what they have tried to do here (with such a breadth of material), but I believe that if they invite a guest author (or editor) to help with the chapter on the history of modern physics they will be fully successful in a subsequent edition.

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Winner of 1999 World History Association Book Award!, May 1, 2000

By	David A. Chappell, Chair WHA Book Award Commi... (Honolulu, HI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Science and Technology in World History: An Introduction (Paperback)

The World History Association has awarded its annual book prize to this work, because it clearly addressed science and technology from a global perspective. Not only Western science is covered, but also in the ancient and medieval periods, northeast Africa, southwest Asia, other parts of Asia and the precolumbian Americas. It thus provides a point of departure for comparative analysis of the markers that many archaeologists and historians use to measure change over time in the human past.