Metropolitan Science: London Sites and Cultures of Knowledge and Practice, C. 1600-1800

Higgitt, Rebekah/ Kilburn-toppin, Jasmine/ Moxham, Noah

ISBN 10: 1350431400 / ISBN 13: 9781350431409

Published by Bloomsbury USA Academic, 2026

About this Item

240 pages. 9.21x6.14x1.11 inches. In Stock.

Seller Inventory # x-1350431400

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Metropolitan Science: London Sites and Cultures of Knowledge and Practice, C. 1600-1800
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Academic
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1350431400
• ISBN 13: 9781350431409
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Brand New
• Weight: 0.45 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

Exploring distinctive practices in the artisanal, mercantile, and governmental sites of London, Metropolitan Science offers a new perspective on the development of a scientific culture between the years 1600-1800. Beginning with the demographics of London in the 17th and 18th centuries, including its attraction of migrants, importance as a centre of empire, and the role of its institutions in government, the authors analyse how and why London was a unique site of scientific activity. Through the use of case studies, such as the Tower of London’s Royal Mint, and the Livery Company Halls, this book examines the city’s sites of exchange for knowledge and practice, and highlights the importance of both public and private spaces. With exploration of London’s military and colonial history, the authors acknowledge how its port and maritime trade were not only central to growth and protection, but also facilitated the organisation, assessment, valuation, and pursuit of knowledge in the city. Ultimately, this book demonstrates that London corporations produced unique knowledge communities that drew on networks across the city and beyond, and uses a variety of spatial and material approaches to reveal the use, representation, and exchange of practice in these collective settings.

About the Author

Rebekah Higgitt is Principal Curator of Science at National Museums Scotland, UK.

Jasmine Kilburn-Toppin is Lecturer in Early Modern History at Cardiff University, UK.

Noah Moxham is a former postdoctoral researcher at the University of Kent, UK.