Department of History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine

The aim of this class is to offer a broad overview of investigations of nature in the Renaissance, ca. 1450-1600, including a wide range of fields and practices in geography and navigation, anatomy and natural history, alchemy and magic, astronomy/astrology and the science of machines, the transition from manuscript to print and the history of the book. We will pay attention to novel technologies of printing, navigation, and warfare. You are expected to give two presentations on different topics. Evaluation is based on oral participation, class presentations, and especially a final essay of about 25-30 pages.