The Jewel house of art and nature : Elizabethan London and the social foundations of the scientific revolution

Bestselling author Deborah Harkness (__A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night__) explores the streets, shops, back alleys, and gardens of Elizabethan London, where a boisterous and diverse group of men and women shared a keen interest in the study of nature. These assorted merchants, gardeners, barber-surgeons, midwives, instrument makers, mathematics teachers, engineers, alchemists, and other experimenters, she contends, formed a patchwork scientific community whose practices set the stage for the Scientific Revolution. While Francis Bacon has been widely regarded as the father of modern science, scores of his London contemporaries also deserve a share in this distinction. It was their collaborative, yet often contentious, ethos that helped to develop the ideals of modern scientific research. The book examines six particularly fascinating episodes of scientific inquiry and dispute in sixteenth-century London, bringing to life the individuals involved and the challenges they faced. These men and women experimented and invented, argued and competed, waged wars in the press, and struggled to understand the complexities of the natural world. Together their stories illuminate the blind alleys and surprising twists and turns taken as medieval philosophy gave way to the empirical, experimental culture that became a hallmark of the Scientific Revolution. This Book Explores The Streets, Shops, Back Alleys, And Gardens Of Elizabethan London, Where A Boisterous And Diverse Group Of Men And Women Shared A Keen Interest In The Study Of Nature. These Assorted Merchants, Gardeners, Barber-surgeons, Midwives, Instrument Makers, Mathematics Teachers, Engineers, Alchemists, And Other Experimenters, Deborah Harkness Contends, Formed A Patchwork Scientific Community Whose Practices Set The Stage For The Scientific Revolution. While Francis Bacon Has Been Widely Regarded As The Father Of Modern Science, Scores Of His London Contemporaries Also Deserve A Share In This Distinction. It Was Their Collaborative, Yet Often Contentious, Ethos That Helped To Develop The Ideals Of Modern Scientific Research. The Book Examines Six Particularly Fascinating Episodes Of Scientific Inquiry And Dispute In The London Of The Sixteenth And Early Seventeenth Centuries, Bringing To Life The Individuals Involved And The Challenges They Faced. These Men And Women Experimented And Invented, Argued And Competed, Waged Wars In The Press, And Struggled To Understand The Complexities Of The Natural World. Together Their Stories Illuminate The Blind Alleys And Surprising Twists And Turns Taken As Medieval Philosophy Gave Way To The Empirical, Experimental Culture That Became A Hallmark Of The Scientific Revolution.--jacket. Prelude: London, 1600 : The View From Somewhere -- Living On Lime Street : English Natural History And The European Republic Of Letters -- The Contest Over Medical Authority : Valentine Russwurin And The Barber-surgeons -- Educating Icarus And Displaying Daedalus : Mathematics And Instrumentation In Elizabethan London -- Big Science In Elizabethan London -- Clement Draper's Prison Notebooks : Reading, Writing, And Doing Science -- From The Jewel House To Salomon's House : Hugh Plat, Francis Bacon, And The Social Foundations Of The Scientific Revolution -- Coda: Toward An Ethnography Of Early Modern Science. Deborah E. Harkness. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 299-329) And Index. The #1 New York Times– bestselling author of A Discovery of Witches examines the real-life history of the scientific community of Elizabethan London. Travel to the streets, shops, back alleys, and gardens of Elizabethan London, where a boisterous and diverse group of men and women shared a keen interest in the study of nature. These assorted merchants, gardeners, barber-surgeons, midwives, instrument makers, mathematics teachers, engineers, alchemists, and other experimenters formed a patchwork scientific community whose practices set the stage for the Scientific Revolution. While Francis Bacon has been widely regarded as the father of modern science, scores of his London contemporaries also deserve a share in this distinction. It was their collaborative, yet often contentious, ethos that helped to develop the ideals of modern scientific research. The book examines six particularly fascinating episodes of scientific inquiry and dispute in sixteenth-century London, bringing to life the individuals involved and the challenges they faced. These men and women experimented and invented, argued and competed, waged wars in the press, and struggled to understand the complexities of the natural world. Together their stories illuminate the blind alleys and surprising twists and turns taken as medieval philosophy gave way to the empirical, experimental culture that became a hallmark of the Scientific Revolution. “Elegant and erudite.” —Anthony Grafton, American Scientist “A truly wonderful book, deeply researched, full of original material, and exhilarating to read.” —John Carey, Sunday Times “Widely accessible.” —Ian Archer, Oxford University “Vivid, compelling, and panoramic, this revelatory work will force us to revise everything we thought we knew about Renaissance science.” —Adrian Johns, author of The Nature Book This book explores the streets, shops, back alleys, and gardens of Elizabethan London, where a boisterous and diverse group of men and women shared a keen interest in the study of nature. These assorted merchants, gardeners, barber-surgeons, midwives, instrument makers, mathematics teachers, engineers, alchemists, and other experimenters Deborah Harkness contends formed a patchwork scientific community whose practices set the stage for the Scientific Revolution. While Francis Bacon has been widely regarded as the father of modern science, scores of his London contemporaries also deserve a share in this distinction. It was their collaborative, yet often contentious, ethos that helped to develop the ideals of modern scientific research. The book examines six particularly fascinating episodes of scientific inquiry and dispute in sixteenth-century London, bringing to life the individuals involved and the challenges they faced. These men and women experimented and invented, argued and competed, waged wars in the press, and struggled to understand the complexities of the natural world. Together their stories illuminate the blind alleys and surprising twists and turns taken as medieval philosophy gave way to the empirical, experimental culture that became a hallmark of the Scientific Revolution.