Important notice
The course guide is provisional.
The PDF version of the course guide may take a few days to become available in the DDD.
Episodes: Science in History
Code: 45750Credits: 10
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| History of Science: History, Heritage and Scientific Communication | OB | 1 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Jaume Sastre Juan
- Email :
- jaume.sastre@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- Carlos Tabernero Holgado
- Monica Balltondre Pla
- Agustí Nieto Galan
- Xavier Roque Rodriguez
- Elena Serrano Jerez
- Jaume Valentines Álvarez
Teaching staff (external to UAB)
- Jesús Galech
- Jon Arrizabalaga
- Emília Calvo
- Álvaro Girón
- Cristian Tolsa
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
There are none.
Objectives
This subject offers a general overview of the development of science from Antiquity to the twentieth century. It looks at the fundamental episodes in the history of science from the point of view of the consensus by experts but also from a plurality of interpretations. The subject is structured in chronological parts imparted by specialists in each period, and deals with the different perspectives on nature as well as with the social relations of science. It is a first approach at the historical development of science, technology and medicine through history, that allows a base from which to go deeper in more specific topics later in the year.
Learning outcomes
- CA01 (Explain to specialised and non-specialised audiences various types of historical sources of science in connection with the historical context in which they were generated, disseminated, and discussed.) Explain to specialised and non-specialised audiences various types of historical sources of science in connection with the historical context in which they were generated, disseminated, and discussed.
- CA02 (Explain to specialised and non-specialised audiences the knowledge, scientific practices and their dimensions of gender, race, class, materiality and power in the historical context in which they were produced and developed.) Explain to specialised and non-specialised audiences the knowledge, scientific practices and their dimensions of gender, race, class, materiality and power in the historical context in which they were produced and developed.
- KA01 (Accurately describe the transformations and continuities in scientific thought, from Antiquity to the twenty-first century.) Accurately describe the transformations and continuities in scientific thought, from Antiquity to the twenty-first century.
- KA02 (Accurately describe events, actors, spaces, objects, theories, experiments, practices and discourses of science throughout history.) Accurately describe events, actors, spaces, objects, theories, experiments, practices and discourses of science throughout history.
- SA01 (Rigorously interpret sources from the past of science in relation to the historical context in which they were generated, disseminated, and discussed, incorporating the dimensions of gender, race, class, materiality, and power.) Rigorously interpret sources from the past of science in relation to the historical context in which they were generated, disseminated, and discussed, incorporating the dimensions of gender, race, class, materiality, and power.
- SA02 (Critically analyse scientific theories generated throughout history.) Critically analyse scientific theories generated throughout history.
- SA03 (Critically analyse the relevant and necessary bibliography to pose and expose a specific historiographical problem.) Critically analyse the relevant and necessary bibliography to pose and expose a specific historiographical problem.
Contents
Origins
1. Welcoming and introduction
2. Babylon: Compendiums of knowledge, temple and palace
3. New articulations of science in classical Greece
4. Alexandria and Rome: consolidation, synthesis and expansion
Medieval world
5. Macrocosm and microcosm
6. Arab globalization
7. Institutions: monasteries, courts, universities
8. Numbers and instruments: astrolabes
16th and 17th centuries
9. The science of the stars: astronomy, astrology, and cosmology
10. The science of motion: mechanisms, instruments and experimentation
11. Medicine and natural history: globalization and visuality
18th century
12. Classifying the world: expeditions, science and colonialism
13. Spaces: academies, homes, workshops and shows
14. Nerves, miasmas and public hygiene: medicine and biopolitics
19th century
15. The origin of species: evolutionism, eugenics, and scientific racism
16. Steam and telegraphs: physics, industrialization and imperialism
17. Brains, minds, societies: the birth of the human sciences
20th century
18. Atoms: The Scientific-Military-Industrial Complex
19. The green revolution
20. Genes: The life sciences in the 20th century
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autonomous work | 150 | 6 | CA01, CA02, KA01, KA02, SA01, SA02, SA03 |
| Classes and seminars | 60 | 2.4 | CA01, CA02, KA01, KA02, SA01, SA02, SA03 |
| Orientation and exercises | 40 | 1.6 | CA01, CA02, KA01, KA02, SA01, SA02, SA03 |
The subject is organized in chronological blocks. The methodology combines presentations by the teaching staff with discussions of assigned readings by students.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral presentation | 30% | 0 | 0 | CA01, CA02, KA01, KA02, SA01, SA02, SA03 |
| Attendance and participation | 20% | 0 | 0 | CA01, CA02, KA01, KA02, SA01, SA02, SA03 |
| Written essays | 50% | 0 | 0 | CA01, CA02, KA01, KA02, SA01, SA02, SA03 |
The assessment includes both student attendance and participation, as well as the completion of written and oral exercises. The course assessment consists of:
- Two 1500-word written essays, one referring to sessions 2-11 and the other to sessions 12-20, answering and discussing some of the proposed questions; weight: 50%.
- A 10-minute individual presentation in one of the course sessions, based on readings and materials provided by the teaching staff; weight: 30%.
- Attendance and active participation in exercises and classroom discussions; weight: 20%.
This subject entirely prohibits the use of AI technologies in all of its activities. Any submitted work that contains content generated using AI will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade will be awarded a zero, without the possibility of reassessment. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.
Bibliography
Agar, Jon. Science in the 20th Century and Beyond. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2012.
A. Barker, Greek Musical Writings I: The Musician and his Art // II: Harmonic and Acoustic Theory, Cambridge 1989.
Barona Vilar, Josep Lluís, ed. Manual de Historia de la Medicina. Valencia: Tirant Humanidades, 2023.
Bowler, Peter J.; Morus, Iwan Rhys. Panorama general de la ciencia moderna. Barcelona: Crítica: 2007.
Brunschwig, J.; Lloyd, Geoffrey (eds.), El saber griego.Madrid: Akal, 2000.
Bynum, William F.; Porter, Roy, eds. Companion encyclopedia of the history of medicine. London: Routledge, 1993, 2 vols.
Clark, W.; Golisnki, J.; Schaffer, S., eds. The Sciences in Enlightened Europe. Chicago/Londres: The University of Chicago Press, 1999.
Dear, Peter. La revolución de las ciencias. El conocimiento europeo y sus expectativas, 1500-1700. Madrid: Marcial Pons, 2007.
Evans, James, The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy, Oxford, 1998.
Fara, Patricia. Breve historia de la ciencia. Barcelona: Ariel, 2009.
Henry, John. The Scientific Revolution and the Origins of Modern Science. Basingstoke y Nueva York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002.
Henry, John. A Short History of Scientific Thought. Basingstoke y Nueva York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.
P. Keyser & G. Irby-Massie (eds.), Encyclopedia of Ancient Natural Scientists. The Greek Tradition and its many heirs, London 2008.
Krige, J.; Pestre, D., eds. Companion to Science in the Twentieth Century. Amsterdam: Harwood, 2003.
Lehoux, Daryn. What Did the Romans Know?: an Inquiry into Science and Worldmaking. Chicago; London: University of Chicago Press, 2012.
López Piñero, José María, La medicina en la historia. Madrid: La Esfera de los Libros, 2002.
Lindberg, David C. Los inicios de la ciencia occidental. Barcelona: Paidós, 2002.
G. Lloyd, Early Greek Science: From Thales to Aristotle, NY 1970.
R. Netz, A New History of Greek Mathematics, Cambridge 2022.
Olby, R. C.; Cantor, G.N.; Christie, J.R.R.; Hodge, M.J.S. eds. Companion to the History of Modern Science. Londres: Routledge, 1990.
Pestre, Dominique, ed., Histoire des sciences et des savoirs, 3 vols. Paris: Seuil, 2015.
Porter, Roy. Breve historia de la medicina. Madrid: Taurus, 2003.
Principe, Lawrence M. La revolución científica. Una breve introducción. Madrid: Alianza Editorial, 2012.
Shapin, Steven. La revolución científica. Una interpretación alternativa. Barcelona: Paidós, 2000.
Solís, Carlos; Sellés, Manuel. Historia de la Ciencia. Espasa. Madrid, 2005.
Vernet, Joan. Lo que Europa debe al Islam de España. Barcelona: Acantilado, 1999.
Software
None in particular.
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TEm) Theory (master) | 1 | Catalan/Spanish | first semester | afternoon |