History of Science & Technology Q&A (November 6, 2024)
Nov 12, 2024
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Discover the intriguing world of ancient travel writing and how it shaped our understanding of historical narratives. Explore interactions between civilizations like Rome and Egypt, and the influential legacy of Babylonian science on Greek philosophy. Uncover the evolution of timekeeping from sundials to atomic clocks, and the fierce rivalries among historical scientists. Delve into forgotten tech hacks from ancient civilizations and why the Greeks embraced abstract thought, leading to pivotal breakthroughs like the realization of Earth's roundness.
Ancient civilizations documented travels through various forms of writing, yet many accounts have been lost, highlighting the limitations of preserved history.
Interconnected trade and communication between civilizations like Rome and Egypt shaped a nuanced understanding of ancient global interactions and cultural exchanges.
Deep dives
Ancient Travel Accounts
Ancient civilizations produced various forms of travel accounts, though much of their writing has not survived. Philosophers and historians documented their observations, such as Julius Caesar’s description of Gaul and its tribes, which served as travel narratives of sorts. However, only works deemed interesting enough by scribes were copied and preserved, leaving behind a limited view of their comprehensive travel experiences. The existence of fragments, like a Greek philosopher's essay on dogs, illustrates that many mundane topics were documented but ultimately lost to time.
Archaeological Discoveries and Historical Insights
Advancements in archaeology, including techniques that recover DNA and textual material from ancient artifacts, have the potential to offer greater insights into historical narratives. For instance, ongoing efforts to excavate scrolls buried by Vesuvius may reveal thousands of records that could reshape our understanding of ancient societies. This suggests that as technology improves, the possibility of uncovering lost knowledge and perspectives about history expands significantly. The use of molecular archaeology could even uncover details about daily life and social practices that were previously unimaginable.
Inter-Civilizational Communication
There was significant communication and trade between ancient civilizations, particularly in the Mediterranean, where Rome and Egypt had extensive interactions. Historical events like the relationships of figures such as Mark Antony and Cleopatra exemplify this engagement. Beyond the Mediterranean, the connections between Asian civilizations and European ones, while less documented, also existed, notably through trade routes to India. Understanding these interactions provides a nuanced view of ancient global interconnectedness and cultural exchanges.
Timekeeping Through the Ages
Ancient methods of telling time included sundials and water clocks, which were based on natural phenomena such as the sun’s position and the flow of water. While sundials were prevalent in many cultures for local timekeeping, the advent of mechanical devices like the Antikythera mechanism points to early experimentation with complex timekeeping. The introduction of pendulum clocks in the 1400s marked a pivotal moment for accurate time measurement, allowing for a more standardized understanding of time. This evolution continued into the 20th century with the development of quartz and atomic clocks, revolutionizing how time is measured across various scientific fields.
Stephen Wolfram answers questions from his viewers about the history of science and technology as part of an unscripted livestream series, also available on YouTube here: https://wolfr.am/youtube-sw-qa
Questions include: Were there any ancient travel bloggers (or the ancient equivalent) who wrote about other places they visited? - Did ancient civilizations like Rome or Egypt actually communicate with each other? - How did they know about each other? - How influential was Babylonian science on Greek natural philosophy? - How did people know how to tell time before clocks? - Did scientists back in the day have rivals or "frenemies" like we see in movies? Did ancient people have the equivalent of church bells to mark the time in cities? - Were there any ancient or medieval "tech hacks" that we'd still find useful today? - Why do you think the ancient Greeks had a fondness for abstract levels of thought? - Is there an aspect of culture that enables this? - How did people figure out that the Earth is round?
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