Artisan/Practitioners and the Rise of the New Sciences, 1400-1600

Pamela O. Long is an independent historian of pre-modern European history and the history of science and technology. She has received grants and fellowships from many institutions, including the American Academy in Rome, the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, and the National Science Foundation. She is a co-director of the Michael of Rhodes Project. She is the author of Openness, Secrecy, Authorship: Technical Arts and the Culture of Knowledge from Antiquity to the Renaissance and co-editor of the Historical Perspectives on Technology, Society and Culture Series.

This interesting, well-written volume offers an introduction to the history of Western science through an examination of the influence of artisans, craftspeople, and other practitioners such as weavers, painters, architect/engineers, instrument makers, and mariners on the emerging disciplines of the scientific revolution and the new humanism. . . . Recommended. Upper division undergraduates and above." —R. M. Davis, Choice."Long's subtle reshaping of the Zilsel thesis is developed over four chapters. . . . At one level Long's argument sits well with a range of studies that draw attention to the role of practical and commercial stimuli and non-elite individuals in the Scientific Revolution. However, her stronger claims go beyond this literature and should provoke debate. . . . Long's argument deserves serious consideration and is a significant contribution to this major debate." —Patrick Wallis, Renaissance Quarterly"Pamela O. Long's clear, accessible, and elegantly written recent book explores the ways that artisan/practitioners influenced the development of the new sciences in the years beteen 1400 and 1600. . . . Long guides readers . . . through a series of engaging chapters that introduce works and figures that are crucial to the development of these ideas, inclucing a wonderful account of the architecture of Rome from the pages of Vitruvius through the streets of a city dotted with obelisks and occasionally overcome with waters. Enjoy!" —Carla Nappi, New Books Network."Long has produced a lively and engaging book. . . . This is a book fo non-specialists based on her lectures as Horning Visiting Scholar in the Humanities at Oregon State University, and it works well as an accessible introduction to these issues." —Lesley Cormack, H-Net Reviews"Long's latest book not only offers a timely review of this important dicussion, it also begins to make an important contribution to it. . . . This is a useful book on an important subject from a scholar who is well suited to write it." —Eric H. Ash, American Historical Review