Materials and Expertise in Early Modern Europe : Between Market and Laboratory

It is often assumed that natural philosophy was the forerunner of early modern natural sciences. But where did these sciences’ systematic observation and experimentation get their starts? In __Materials and Expertise in Early Modern Europe__, the laboratories, workshops, and marketplaces emerge as arenas where hands-on experience united with higher learning. In an age when chemistry, mineralogy, geology, and botany intersected with mining, metallurgy, pharmacy, and gardening, materials were objects that crossed disciplines. Here, the contributors tell the stories of metals, clay, gunpowder, pigments, and foods, and thereby demonstrate the innovative practices of technical experts, the development of the consumer market, and the formation of the observational and experimental sciences in the early modern period. __Materials and Expertise in Early Modern Europe__ showcases a broad variety of forms of knowledge, from ineffable bodily skills and technical competence to articulated know-how and connoisseurship, from methods of measuring, data gathering, and classification to analytical and theoretical knowledge. By exploring the hybrid expertise involved in the making, consumption, and promotion of various materials, and the fluid boundaries they traversed, the book offers an original perspective on important issues in the history of science, medicine, and technology. It Is Often Assumed That Natural Philosophy Was The Forerunner Of Early Modern Natural Sciences. But Where Did These Sciences’ Systematic Observation And Experimentation Get Their Starts? In Materials And Expertise In Early Modern Europe, The Laboratories, Workshops, And Marketplaces Emerge As Arenas Where Hands-on Experience United With Higher Learning. In An Age When Chemistry, Mineralogy, Geology, And Botany Intersected With Mining, Metallurgy, Pharmacy, And Gardening, Materials Were Objects That Crossed Disciplines. Here, The Contributors Tell The Stories Of Metals, Clay, Gunpowder, Pigments, And Foods, And Thereby Demonstrate The Innovative Practices Of Technical Experts, The Development Of The Consumer Market, And The Formation Of The Observational And Experimental Sciences In The Early Modern Period. Materials And Expertise In Early Modern Europe Showcases A Broad Variety Of Forms Of Knowledge, From Ineffable Bodily Skills And Technical Competence To Articulated Know-how And Connoisseurship, From Methods Of Measuring, Data Gathering, And Classification To Analytical And Theoretical Knowledge. By Exploring The Hybrid Expertise Involved In The Making, Consumption, And Promotion Of Various Materials, And The Fluid Boundaries They Traversed, The Book Offers An Original Perspective On Important Issues In The History Of Science, Medicine, And Technology.-- Introduction: Why Materials? / Ursula Klein And E.c. Spary -- The Production Of Materials. Introduction To Part 1 / Ursula Klein ; Vermilion, Mercury, Blood, And Lizards: Matter And Meaning In Metalworking / Pamela H. Smith ; Ceramic Nature / Hanna Rose Shell ; The Production Of Silver, Copper, And Lead In The Harz Mountains From Late Medieval Times To The Onset Of Industrialization / Christoph Bartels ; Ink / Adrian Johns ; Blending Technical Innovation And Learned Natural Knowledge: The Making Of Ethers / Ursula Klein -- Materials In The Market Sphere. Introduction To Part 2 / Ursula Klein ; Enlightened Milk: Reshaping A Bodily Substance Into A Chemical Object / Barbara Orland ; The Sparkling Nectar Of Spas; Or, Mineral Water As A Medically Commodifiable Material In The Province, 1770-1805 / Matthew D. Eddy ; Liqueurs And The Luxury Marketplace In Eighteenth-century Paris / E. C. Spary -- State Interventions. Introduction To Part 3 / Ursula Klein ; Economizing Agricultural Resources In The German Economic Enlightenment / Marcus Popplow ; The Crisis Of English Gunpowder In The Eighteenth Century / Seymour H. Mauskopf ; Between Craft Routines And Academic Rules: Natural Dyestuffs And The Art Of Dyeing In The Eighteenth Century / Agustí Nieto-galan. Edited By Ursula Klein And E.c. Spary. Papers Of Two Workshops Which Were Held At The Max-planck-institut Für Wissenschaftsgeschichte, Berlin, In July 2004 And December 2006. Publication Date On Title Page Verso Is 2009; Copyright Date Of University Of Chicago Press Is 2010 On Title Page Verso; University Of Chicago Press Website For The Book Has Copyright Date Of 2010. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

It is often assumed that natural philosophy was the forerunner of early modern natural sciences. But where did these sciences’ systematic observation and experimentation get their starts? In Materials and Expertise in Early Modern Europe, the laboratories, workshops, and marketplaces emerge as arenas where hands-on experience united with higher learning. In an age when chemistry, mineralogy, geology, and botany intersected with mining, metallurgy, pharmacy, and gardening, materials were objects that crossed disciplines.

Here, the contributors tell the stories of metals, clay, gunpowder, pigments, and foods, and thereby demonstrate the innovative practices of technical experts, the development of the consumer market, and the formation of the observational and experimental sciences in the early modern period. Materials and Expertise in Early Modern Europe showcases a broad variety of forms of knowledge, from ineffable bodily skills and technical competence to articulated know-how and connoisseurship, from methods of measuring, data gathering, and classification to analytical and theoretical knowledge. By exploring the hybrid expertise involved in the making, consumption, and promotion of various materials, and the fluid boundaries they traversed, the book offers an original perspective on important issues in the history of science, medicine, and technology.