Dales, Richard C., ed., The Scientific Achievement of the Middle Ages (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1973). ISBN: 812210573
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Text name(s): Natural Questions; On the Elements; The Impressions of the Elements; The Heat of the Sun; An Inquiry into the Causes of the Tides; Isis; Tractus de Proportionibus; Questions on the Heavens and the World; On the Book of the Heavens; Questions on the Heavens and the World; On the Natures of Things Above and Below; Hexaemeron; Liber introductorius; Prooemium; Opus Maius; Opus Tertium

Number of pages of primary source text: 133

Medieval Author(s): Adelard of Bath Bacon, Roger Grosseteste, Robert

Dates: 1100 - 1300

Archival Reference:

Original Language(s): Latin;

Translation: English translation.

Translation Comments:

Geopolitical Region(s): Europe;

County/Region:

Apparatus: Bibliography Introduction

Comments:

This volume contains excerpts from twelfth- and thirteenth-century scientists including Grosseteste and Bacon and places them in the context of a historical narrative. The editor endeavors to illustrate the evolution of scientific thought in the middle ages and in doing so provides an intriguing glimpse into the past. He does not, however, translate entire documents, preferring to furnish the reader with extracts.

Introduction Summary:

The introduction, by Edward Peters, begins with a description of Adelard of Bath who wrote about his experiences traveling through Europe. He then discusses a tenth-century monk who also traveled in an endeavor to discover “where learning was to be had” (p. 5) and the types of scientific learning that were pursued in the middle ages. Finally he introduces the documents selected by Dr. Dale for publication.

Cataloger: SES