Ancient Greek and Roman Science – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 79

Science in Ancient Greece and Rome

Ancient Greek and Roman societies are often credited with the origins of science. However, the concept of science as we know it today did not exist in the ancient world. Nevertheless, there were individuals in ancient texts who actively engaged in the study of nature, medicine, and mathematics. While not labeled 'scientists', they possessed specialist knowledge and skills. Ancient scientific and technical texts were not always in the same format as modern works. Some of the most important scientific and technical texts were written by individuals primarily known as poets, indicating the overlap between science and poetry in Greco-Roman culture. The practical aspect of ancient science is often overlooked, but many of those known for scientific and mathematical work were also celebrated for their practical achievements.