LC395 Science, Technology, and Society in the Renaissance

Jacopo de Barbari, Fra Luca Pacioli, 1495, Capodimonte Museum, Naples

Required Texts:

• Michael J. Crowe, Theories of the World from Antiquity to the Copernican Revolution
• Ross King, Brunelleschi's Dome
• Robin W. Winks and Lee Palmer Wandel, Europe in a Wider World: 1350-1650

Other Required Readings:

• Galileo Galilei,
  • Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany, 1615
  • Siderius Nuncius (Starry Messenger) selections
• Richard Hakluyt, Principal Navigations:
  • Voyage of Ralph Fitch 34 pages
  • Voyage to Java 18 pages
• Selections from Geoffrey Parker, ed., Empire, War and Faith in Early Modern Europe
• Selections from Leon Battista Alberti, On Painting
• Selections from Vesalius, De humani corporis fabrica
• Selections from Ambroise Paré:
  • Journeys in Divers Places
  • Writings on Surgery
• Library of Congress Exhibition of books and MSS from the Vatican Library: Rome Reborn
• Museum of the History of Science, University of Oxford
  • The Geometry of War
  • Astrolabes of Africa
  • Epact: Scientific Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Europe
• Others to be added later

Description:

Beginning with linear perspective and ending with Galileo's discoveries, this course will chart the technlogical and scientific problems deliberated in the Renaissance as well as the profound economic and social changes that together mark the birth of the modern world.

Objectives:

• Students in this course should understand the social and contextual nature of scientific research and technological developments
  • Become familiar with the cultural, political, military, and social history of the Early Modern period in Europe
  • Within that historical context, trace the scientific and technological problems under scrutinty during the period, and their various proposed solutions.
  • Trace the impact of science and technology on the health and welfare of human beings, and vice versa
  • Analyze conflicting cultural values in scientific and technological research
  • Analyze critically primary texts and secondary commentaries

Assignments and Grading:

To achieve these objectives, you will carefully analyze texts and their historical context, prepare each text or other reading carefully, and participate fully and enthusiastically in class discussion. To assess your progress toward these objectives, I shall require you to complete the following assignments:

• 5 Short Papers of 2-3 pages
• Quizzes, announced and unannounced
• A group presentation on an assigned subject
• Class Participation
• Final Project (reproduce a mechanical device or solve a problem)
  • both an oral and a written component

Failure to produce any of the assigned requirements will result in a zero for the course.

Grade Summary:

Attendance Policy:

More than 3 absences will seriously affect your final grade. The Dean's office does not grant excused absences. If you have trouble making a class or an assignment, see me. You are responsible for all makeup work. Failure to produce any of the assigned requirements will result in a zero for the course.

Class web site and assignments:

All assignments will be posted on the web. I will not pass out assignments in class. You are expected to refer to our web page daily, as I shall be updating it constantly. The assignment is due on the date it is posted.

Plagiarism Policy:

Any act of plagiarism will result in a zero for the assignment, a zero for the semester class participation grade, and notification to your advisor and to the academic integrity board for recommended action.