Violet Moller, an independent historian and author, delves into the scientific revolution of 16th-century Europe. She highlights the groundbreaking ideas of Nicolaus Copernicus and the impactful work of figures like John Dee. The conversation reveals how empirical observation transformed astronomy and spotlights the collaborative spirit among scholars and craftsmen. Moller also discusses the tension between mystical practices and emerging scientific rigor, along with the overlooked contributions of the Arab world in this pivotal era.
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Nuremberg's Geography Fuels Innovation
Nuremberg's location on a major trade route and its mining metals fostered specialization in complex technologies like clockmaking.
This specialization, combined with a progressive merchant-led city government, made Nuremberg a hub for scientific instrument innovation.
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Craft Workshops Were Collaborative Systems
Workshops evolved beyond single craftsmen, involving apprentices and journeymen traveling to learn new techniques.
This system helped artisans like Albrecht Dürer bring advanced skills back to Nuremberg, fostering technological progress.
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Patronage Elevated Science and Craft
Patrons ranged from astronomers commissioning specific instruments to rulers like Rudolf II employing many alchemists.
Wilhelm IV advanced scientific careers by officially employing and properly compensating craftsmen and scholars, improving their status.
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Violet Moller's 'The Map of Knowledge' explores the journey of major scientific texts through the Middle Ages. It traces their evolution from the ancient world to around 1500, highlighting the transmission of knowledge across civilizations. The book emphasizes the significant role of the Arab world in preserving and advancing scientific thought during this period. It examines how key texts were translated, studied, and built upon by Arab scholars. Moller showcases the interconnectedness of intellectual traditions and the importance of understanding the Arab world's contribution to the history of science.
Inside the Stargazer's Palace
Inside the Stargazer's Palace
Violet Moller
Violet Moller's 'Inside the Stargazer's Palace' investigates the transformation of science during the 16th century in Northern Europe, revealing the multidisciplinary culture of the time. It uncovers a world where the boundaries between natural and supernatural were yet to be defined, and all knowledge, regardless of its perceived value, could be pursued. The book explores locations from Tycho Brahe's Danish observatory to John Dee's alchemical workshop. It showcases how the period's intellectual heart fostered significant advancements in science. Moller emphasizes the importance of understanding this era to appreciate the roots of modern scientific thought.
Securing Peace in Angola and Mozambique
Securing Peace in Angola and Mozambique
Miranda Melcher
In 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus declared the earth revolved around the Sun, overturning centuries of scholastic presumption. A new age was coming into view – one guided by observation, technology and logic.
But omens and elixirs did not disappear from the sixteenth-century laboratory. Charms and potions could still be found nestled between glistening brass instruments and leather-bound tomes. The line between the natural and supernatural remained porous, yet to be defined.
From the icy Danish observatory of Tycho Brahe, to the smoky, sulphur-stained workshop of John Dee, in Inside the Stargazer’s Palace: The Transformation of Science in 16th-Century Northern Europe (OneWorld, 2024) Dr. Violet Moller tours the intellectual heart of early European science. Exploring its rich, multidisciplinary culture, Inside the Stargazer’s Palace reveals a dazzling forgotten world, where all knowledge, no matter how arcane, could be pursued in good faith.
This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda’s interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.
New Books in Science, Technology, and Society 