For well over 2,000 years, much of our fundamental "desire to know" has focused on what we now call science. And our profound commitment to science and technology now stands as probably the most powerful influence on human culture.
This course presents a survey of the history of science in the Western world from the ancient Babylonians through the discoveries of Isaac Newton. It will enhance your understanding of what science is; how, why, and by whom it has been developed; and how our modern conception of science differs from earlier ideas.
Throughout these lectures, each rich in historical context, science is revealed as a dynamic, evolving entity, tightly connected to the needs and commitments of those who pursue it.