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HPSC0067

The main focus is the Greek ‘investigation concerning nature’ and the study of the heavens, including theories of how the world came into being, medicine, mathematics and technology.

Science in the Ancient World

This course examines the activities of the ancients in attempting to understand, predict and control the world around them. We also look at how the Greeks thought of disciplines such as astrology and alchemy and how their activities related to magic. While the main focus is the Greeks, we also look at the Babylonian, Egyptian and Roman cultures, their medicine, technology and how they conceived of the world around them.

Aims:

This course aims to examine the practices of several ancient cultures in areas such as healing, theory of matter, the origins of our world and the study of the heavens. How we should understand these ancient practices, and in what sense we should consider them to be sciences will be central concerns of the course. The ancient practices of alchemy and astrology will also be examined, as will the general relation of magic and science in the ancient world. Issues of the relation of religion and science in these various cultures will also be explored.

Objectives:

This course aims to examine the practices of several ancient cultures in areas such as healing, theory of matter, the origins of our world and the study of the heavens. How we should understand these ancient practices, and in what sense we should consider them to be sciences will be central concerns of the course. The ancient practices of alchemy and astrology will also be examined, as will the general relation of magic and science in the ancient world. Issues of the relation of religion and science in these various cultures will also be explored.

Course Syllabus:

UCL Module Catalogue: Science in the Ancient World (HPSC0067)