Missionary scientists : Jesuit science in Spanish South America, 1570-1810

Missionary Scientists explores the scientific activities of Jesuit missionaries in colonial Spanish America, revealing a little-known aspect of religions role in the scholarship of the early Spanish Empire. Grounded in an examination of the writings and individuals authors who were active in South American naturalist studies, this study outlines new paths of research often neglected by current scholarship. What becomes clear throughout Missionary Scientists is that early missionaries were adept in adapting to local practices, in order to both understand the scientific foundations of these techniques and ingratiate themselves to the native communities. Spanning the disciplines of history, religion, and Latin American studies, Missionary Scientists reshapes our understanding of the importance of the Jesuit missions in establishing early scientific traditions in the New World. Missionary Scientists Explores The Scientific Activities Of Jesuit Missionaries In Colonial Spanish America, Revealing A Little-known Aspect Of Religion's Role In The Scholarship Of The Early Spanish Empire. Grounded In An Examination Of The Writings Of Authors Who Were Active In South American Naturalist Studies, This Study Outlines New Paths Of Research Often Neglected By Current Scholarship. What Becomes Clear Throughout The Book Is That Early Missionaries Were Adept At Adapting To Local Practices, In Order To Both Understand The Scientific Foundations Of These Techniques And Ingratiate Themselves To The Native Communities. Spanning The Disciplines Of History, Religion, And Latin American Studies, Missionary Scientists Reshapes Our Understanding Of The Importance Of The Jesuit Missions In Establishing Early Scientific Traditions In The New World. --book Jacket. Introduction : Science And The Jesuit Ways Of Proceeding -- Jesuit Struggles In Peru -- Confessing The Power To Heal -- Christianizing Demonic Knowledge -- Science And Expansion -- Astronomy Between Chiloe, Lima And Rome -- The Two Faces Of Acosta's Historia Natural Y Moral -- The Irreducible Difference Of America -- Local Nature, Local Histories -- Epilogue : The Jesuit And The Armchair Philosopher. Andrés I. Prieto. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Introduction : science and the Jesuit ways of proceeding Jesuit struggles in Peru Confessing the power to heal Christianizing demonic knowledge Science and expansion Astronomy between Chiloe, Lima and Rome The two faces of Acosta's Historia natural y moral The irreducible difference of America Local nature, local knowledge Epilogue : the Jesuit and the armchair philosopher. Explores the scientific activities of Jesuit missionaries in colonial Spanish America, revealing a little-known aspect of religion’s role in the scholarship of the early Spanish Empire. Examining the writings and individuals authors who were active in South American naturalist studies, this outlines new paths of research often neglected by current scholarship.