Science in the Early Roman Empire: Pliny the Elder, His Sources and Influence (Routledge Library Editions: The Ancient World)

The studies collected in Science in the Early Roman Empire (1986) represent key research done on the Elder Pliny – an important and difficult figure whose Natural History forms a valuable compendium at a fixed historical point in time of ancient science. Its subsequent influence was enormous, remaining the most comprehensive scientific encyclopaedia even until the Renaissance. The chapters seek to locate Pliny in his social and intellectual milieu, to survey his approach to particular sciences such as astronomy, mineralogy, botany and pharmacopoeia. Two chapters consider the response in the Renaissance to his work. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Original Title Page Original Copyright Page Table of Contents Acknowledgements Introduction 1. The Elder Pliny and his Times 2. The Pliny Translation Group of Germany 3. The Structure of Pliny the Elder's Natural History 4. The Perils of Patriotism: Pliny and Roman Medicine 5. Pharmacy in Pliny's Natural History: Some Observations on Substances and Sources 6. Pliny on Plants. His Place in the History of Botany 7. Aspects of Pliny's Zoology 8. Pliny on Mineralogy and Metals 9. Chemical Tests in Pliny 10. Some Astronomical Topics in Pliny 11. Plinian Astronomy in the Middle Ages and Renaissance 12. Pliny and Renaissance Medicine Index