Inside the Stargazer’s Palace: The Transformation of Science in 16th-Century Europe
By Violet Moller
Pegasus Books
ISBN: 978-1-63936-837-2
In the final decades of the Middle Ages and into the 16th century, Europe experienced a renewed emphasis on scientific inquiry. This book explores that transformation—especially in the field of astronomy—through the lives and work of figures such as John Dee and Tycho Brahe.
Excerpt:
This is the story of how that world was created during the sixteenth century, specifically how investigation into the natural realm proliferated and flourished in the northern parts of Europe. It is not a well-known narrative, at least compared to the twin megaliths of the Italian Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution, which it falls between and inextricably links. Histories of this period rightly celebrate the achievements of the likes of Copernicus and Galileo, but this narrative is based around places, so these individuals are not my focus. Johannes Kepler is included, because of the role he played in Prague – one of the key cities we will visit. It is impossible to avoid ‘great men and big ideas’ when writing about the history of science, but I am keen to draw a broader picture by focusing on the figures that sit at the periphery, the places where they worked and the wider culture in which they operated. Where possible, and the sources are very limited, this will include the people, many of them women, in the background who assisted and worked alongside them.
Who is this book for?
This book offers a good overview of the development of scientific research in Europe in the 16th century. It will be particularly useful to those wanting to learn about astronomy during this period, as well as the careers of John Dee and Tycho Brahe.
“An entertaining survey of the facilities used by 15th and 16th-century scientists. Ms. Moller’s affection for her often chaotic but inspiring subjects is palpable. To her, they represent a legacy of interdisciplinary daring, a willingness to cross geographic and intellectual boundaries as well as to fuse theory and practice. Scientists today, confined to their often narrowly defined fields, would do well to keep their efforts in mind.” ~ review by Christoph Irmscher in The Wall Street Journal
“The lack of scientific detail and loose focus made this a sometimes frustrating read. However, I can see that for non-scientists and those who prefer a more fluid approach, the book presents an intriguing alternative view of the Scientific Revolution.” ~ review by Victoria Atkinson in PhysicsWorld
The Author
Violet Moller is a historian and writer. Her PhD in intellectual history is from Edinburgh University, where she focused on the sixteenth century. One of her previous books is The Map of Knowledge: A Thousand-Year History of How Classical Ideas Were Lost and Found.
Inside the Stargazer’s Palace: The Transformation of Science in 16th-Century Europe
By Violet Moller
Pegasus Books
ISBN: 978-1-63936-837-2
In the final decades of the Middle Ages and into the 16th century, Europe experienced a renewed emphasis on scientific inquiry. This book explores that transformation—especially in the field of astronomy—through the lives and work of figures such as John Dee and Tycho Brahe.
Excerpt:
This is the story of how that world was created during the sixteenth century, specifically how investigation into the natural realm proliferated and flourished in the northern parts of Europe. It is not a well-known narrative, at least compared to the twin megaliths of the Italian Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution, which it falls between and inextricably links. Histories of this period rightly celebrate the achievements of the likes of Copernicus and Galileo, but this narrative is based around places, so these individuals are not my focus. Johannes Kepler is included, because of the role he played in Prague – one of the key cities we will visit. It is impossible to avoid ‘great men and big ideas’ when writing about the history of science, but I am keen to draw a broader picture by focusing on the figures that sit at the periphery, the places where they worked and the wider culture in which they operated. Where possible, and the sources are very limited, this will include the people, many of them women, in the background who assisted and worked alongside them.
Who is this book for?
This book offers a good overview of the development of scientific research in Europe in the 16th century. It will be particularly useful to those wanting to learn about astronomy during this period, as well as the careers of John Dee and Tycho Brahe.
“An entertaining survey of the facilities used by 15th and 16th-century scientists. Ms. Moller’s affection for her often chaotic but inspiring subjects is palpable. To her, they represent a legacy of interdisciplinary daring, a willingness to cross geographic and intellectual boundaries as well as to fuse theory and practice. Scientists today, confined to their often narrowly defined fields, would do well to keep their efforts in mind.” ~ review by Christoph Irmscher in The Wall Street Journal
“The lack of scientific detail and loose focus made this a sometimes frustrating read. However, I can see that for non-scientists and those who prefer a more fluid approach, the book presents an intriguing alternative view of the Scientific Revolution.” ~ review by Victoria Atkinson in PhysicsWorld
The Author
Violet Moller is a historian and writer. Her PhD in intellectual history is from Edinburgh University, where she focused on the sixteenth century. One of her previous books is The Map of Knowledge: A Thousand-Year History of How Classical Ideas Were Lost and Found.
You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website.
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