God's Philosophers : How the Medieval World Laid the Foundations of Modern Science

This is a powerful and a thrilling narrative history revealing the roots of modern science in the medieval world. The adjective 'medieval' has become a synonym for brutality and uncivilized behavior. Yet without the work of medieval scholars there could have been no Galileo, no Newton and no Scientific Revolution. In "God's Philosophers", James Hannam debunks many of the myths about the Middle Ages, showing that medieval people did not think the earth is flat, nor did Columbus 'prove' that it is a sphere; the Inquisition burnt nobody for their science nor was Copernicus afraid of persecution; no Pope tried to ban human dissection or the number zero. "God's Philosophers" is a celebration of the forgotten scientific achievements of the Middle Ages - advances which were often made thanks to, rather than in spite of, the influence of Christianity and Islam. Decisive progress was also made in technology: spectacles and the mechanical clock, for instance, were both invented in thirteenth-century Europe. Charting an epic journey through six centuries of history, "God's Philosophers" brings back to light the discoveries of neglected geniuses like John Buridan, Nicole Oresme and Thomas Bradwardine, as well as putting into context the contributions of more familiar figures like Roger Bacon, William of Ockham and Saint Thomas Aquinas. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 After the Fall of Rome: Progress in the Early Middle Ages Ploughs, Horseshoes and Stirrups: New Technology in the Early Middle Ages The Fall of Rome and the Rise of Islam The Foundation of the New Roman Empire CHAPTER 2 The Mathematical Pope The Career of Gerbert of Aurillac Gerbert's Knowledge of Ancient Philosophy The Christian Vision of the Natural World and the Music of the Spheres CHAPTER 3 The Rise of Reason Saint Anselm and the Logical Proof that God Exists The Doomed Lovers The Trials of Peter Abelard. CHAPTER 4 The Twelfth-Century RenaissanceWilliam of Conches and the Natural Philosophy of Plato Adelard of Bath The Translators The First Universities CHAPTER 5 Heresy and Reason The University of Paris Bans Aristotle Heresy and the Inquisition The New Orders: Dominicans and Franciscans CHAPTER 6 How Pagan Science was Christianised The Universal and Angelic Doctors Thomas Aquinas's Scholastic Method Averröes versus Aquinas The Condemnations of 1277 The Gothic Cathedrals CHAPTER 7 Bloody Failure: Magic and Medicine in the Middle Ages Being Ill in a Medieval City. Magic in the Middle AgesMedieval medicine The Origin of Learned Medicine CHAPTER 8 The Secret Arts of Alchemy and Astrology The Influence of the Stars The Terrible Fate of Cecco D'Ascoli The Philosopher's Stone and the Elixir of Life Occult Forces CHAPTER 9 Roger Bacon and the Science of Light The Physics of War The Life of Friar Bacon The Legend of Friar Bacon Divine Light CHAPTER 10 The Clockmaker: Richard of Wallingford Oxford University and the Foundation of Cambridge The Trivial Syllabus The Scientific Syllabus of the Middle Ages Richard of Wallingford's Career. The Invention of TimeCHAPTER 11 The Merton Calculators Ockham and his Razor The Errors of Aristotle The Mathematical Archbishop of Canterbury The Mean Speed Theorem CHAPTER 12 The Apogee of Medieval Science The Rector of Paris Nicole Oresme: The Bishop Philosopher Bread, Wine and Atoms The Decline of Medieval Science CHAPTER 13 New Horizons Nicholas of Cusa The Crisis of Ancient Geography The Discovery of the New World The Fall of Constantinople The Invention of the Printed Book CHAPTER 14 Humanism and the Reformation The Rise of Humanism. The Destruction of Medieval ScholarshipThe Loss of Manuscripts The Reformation The Theological Foundation of the Reformation Protestantism and Science CHAPTER 15 The Polymaths of the Sixteenth Century Hermetism John Dee Reforms Astrology The Life of Jerome Cardan Cardan and Tartaglia Cardan's Family Problems CHAPTER 16 The Workings of Man: Medicine and Anatomy An Unorthodox Physician Going Under the Knife The Beginnings of Human Dissection Andreas Vesalius Persecuted Anatomists? William Harvey and the Heart CHAPTER 17 Humanist Astronomy and Nicolaus Copernicus. In 'God's Philosophers', James Hannam traces the neglected roots of modern science in the medieval world. Charting an epic journey through six centuries of history, 'God's Philosophers' reveals the debt modern science and technology owe to the supposedly 'dark' ages of medieval Europe.The adjective 'medieval' is now a synonym for superstition and ignorance. Yet without the work of medieval scholars there could have been no Galileo, no Newton and no Scientific Revolution.In God's Philosophers, James Hannam traces the neglected roots of modern science in the medieval world. He debunks many of the myths about the Middle Ages, showing that medieval people did not think the earth was flat, nor did Columbus 'prove' that it is a sphere. Contrary to common belief, the Inquisition burnt nobody at the stake for their science, nor was Copernicus afraid of persecution. No Pope tried to ban human dissection or the number zero.On the contrary, as Hannam reveals, the Middle Ages gave rise tp staggering achievements in both science and technology: for instance, spectacles and the mechanical clock were both invented in thirteenth-century Europe. Ideas from the Far East, like printing, gunpowder and the compass, were taken further by Europeans than the Chinese had imagined possible. The compass helped Columbus to discover the New World in 1492 while printing allowed an incredible 20 million books to be produced in the first 50 years after Gutenberg published his Bible in 1455. And Hannam argues that scientific progress was often made thanks to, rather than in spite of, the influence of Christianity.Charint an epic journey through six centuries of history, God's Philosophers bring sback to light the discoveries of neglected geniuses like John Buridan, Nicole Oresme and Thomas Bradwardine, as well as putting into context the contributions of more familiar figures like Roger Bacon, William of Ockham and St Thomas Aquinas.Besides being a thrilling history of a period of surprising invention and innovation, God's Philosophers reveals the debt modern science and techonlogy owe to the supposedly 'dark' ages of medieval Europe. "This is a powerful and a thrilling narrative history revealing the roots of modern science in the medieval world. The adjective 'medieval' has become a synonym for brutality and uncivilized behavior. Yet without the work of medieval scholars there could have been no Galileo, no Newton and no Scientific Revolution ... James Hannam debunks many of the myths about the Middle Ages, showing that medieval people did not think the earth is flat, nor did Columbus 'prove' that it is a sphere; the Inquisition burnt nobody for their science nor was Copernicus afraid of persecution; no Pope tried to ban human dissection or the number zero. "God's Philosophers" is a celebration of the forgotten scientific achievements of the Middle Ages - advances which were often made thanks to, rather than in spite of, the influence of Christianity and Islam. Decisive progress was also made in technology: spectacles and the mechanical clock, for instance, were both invented in thirteenth-century Europe. Charting an epic journey through six centuries of history, "God's Philosophers" brings back to light the discoveries of neglected geniuses like John Buridan, Nicole Oresme and Thomas Bradwardine, as well as putting into context the contributions of more familiar figures like Roger Bacon, William of Ockham and Saint Thomas Aquinas."--Descripción del editor LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS; INTRODUCTION; CHAPTER 1 After the Fall of Rome: Progress in the Early Middle Ages; Ploughs, Horseshoes and Stirrups: New Technology in the Early Middle Ages; The Fall of Rome and the Rise of Islam; The Foundation of the New Roman Empire; CHAPTER 2 The Mathematical Pope; The Career of Gerbert of Aurillac; Gerbert's Knowledge of Ancient Philosophy; The Christian Vision of the Natural World and the Music of the Spheres; CHAPTER 3 The Rise of Reason; Saint Anselm and the Logical Proof that God Exists; The Doomed Lovers; The Trials of Peter Abelard.;A powerful and thrilling narrative history revealing the roots of modern science in the medieval world. The adjective 'medieval' has become a synonym for brutality and uncivilised behaviour. Yet without the work of medieval scholars there could have been no Galileo, no Newton and no Scientific Revolution. In God's Philosophers, James Hannam debunks many of the myths about the Middle Ages, showing that medieval people did not think the earth was flat, nor did Columbus 'prove' that it is a sphere; the Inquisition burnt nobody for their science nor was Copernicus afraid of persecution; no Pope. God's Philosophers Is A Celebration Of The Forgotten Scientific Achievements Of The Middle Ages - Advances Which Were Often Made Thanks To, Rather Than In Spite Of, The Influence Of Christianity And Islam. --from Publisher Description. Introduction: The Truth About Science In The Middle Ages -- After The Fall Of Rome: Progress In The Early Middle Ages -- The Mathematical Pope -- The Rise Of Reason -- The Twelfth-century Renaissance -- Heresy And Reason -- How Pagan Science Was Christianised -- Bloody Failure: Magic And Medicine In The Middle Ages -- The Secret Arts Of Alchemy An Astrology -- Roger Bacon And The Science Of Light -- The Clockmaker: Richard Of Wallingford -- The Merton Calculators -- The Apogee Of Medieval Science -- New Horizons -- Humanism And The Reformation -- The Polymaths Of The Sixteenth Century -- The Workings Of Man: Medicine And Anatomy -- Humanist Astronomy And Nicolaus Copernicus -- Reforming The Heavens -- Galileo And Giordano Bruno -- Galileo And The New Astronomy -- The Trial And Triumph Of Galileo -- Conclusion: A Scientific Revolution? James Hannam. Includes Bibliographical Notes And Bibliography (p. 359-420) And Index. Presents a narrative history that reveals the roots of modern science in the medieval world. This book debunks many of the myths about the Middle Ages, showing that medieval people did not think the earth is flat, nor did Columbus 'prove' that it is a sphere; the Inquisition burnt nobody for their science nor was Copernicus afraid of persecution.