The Science of Describing : Natural History in Renaissance Europe
Language: English
Published by University Of Chicago Press, 2008
- Softcover
- New
Seller: BWS BKS, Ferndale, NY, U.S.A.BWS BKS
AbeBooks seller since June 4, 2026
Condition: New
US$ 1,976.00
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Out of the diverse traditions of medical humanism, classical philology, and natural philosophy, Renaissance naturalists created a new science devoted to discovering and describing plants and animals. In order to distinguish and catalog new plant and animal species, they developed new techniques of observing and recording, created botanical gardens and herbaria, and exchanged correspondence and specimens within an international community. Drawing on published natural histories, manuscript correspondence, garden plans, travelogues, watercolors, and drawings, The Science of Describing reconstructs the evolution of this discipline of description through four generations of naturalists. Illustrated with woodcuts, engravings, and photographs, The Science of Describing is the first broad interpretation of Renaissance natural history in more than a generation and will appeal widely to an interdisciplinary audience. “Ogilvie shows that history has much to teach us. . . . [He] has done more than just write about the Renaissance science of describing; he has written the story of how science constantly reinvents itself, seen through the lens of the pre-Linnaeans.”—Sandra Knapp, Nature “A book that . . . breaks with tradition even as it builds on it. Brian Ogilvie argues convincingly that we need to discard, once and for all, the idea that natural history remained largely static from the era of Aristotle until the birth of the modern world.”—Jim Endersby, Times Literary Supplement “In this beautifully illustrated, fascinating book, Brian Ogilvie shows how the natural sciences developed in a vigorous and quite different way to the experimentalism of the ‘hard’ sciences.”—Adrian Barnett, New Scientist.…
Seller Inventory # 92469
- Title
- The Science of Describing : Natural History in Renaissance Europe
- Author
- Ogilvie, Brian W.
- Publisher
- University Of Chicago Press
- Publication year
- 2008
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0226620883
- ISBN 13
- 9780226620886
Out of the diverse traditions of medical humanism, classical philology, and natural philosophy, Renaissance naturalists created a new science devoted to discovering and describing plants and animals. Drawing on published natural histories, manuscript correspondence, garden plans, travelogues, watercolors, and drawings, The Science of Describing reconstructs the evolution of this discipline of description through four generations of naturalists.
In the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, naturalists focused on understanding ancient and medieval descriptions of the natural world, but by the mid-sixteenth century naturalists turned toward distinguishing and cataloguing new plant and animal species. To do so, they developed new techniques of observing and recording, created botanical gardens and herbaria, and exchanged correspondence and specimens within an international community. By the early seventeenth century, naturalists began the daunting task of sorting through the wealth of information they had accumulated, putting a new emphasis on taxonomy and classification.
Illustrated with woodcuts, engravings, and photographs, The Science of Describing is the first broad interpretation of Renaissance natural history in more than a generation and will appeal widely to an interdisciplinary audience.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Brian W. Ogilvie is associate professor of history at the University of Massachusetts–Amherst.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | US$ 3.00 | US$ 5.50 |
Payment methods
Store description
Expect Exemplary Service With Our “Customer-First Philosophy” OUR STAFF IS CONTINUOUSLY GLOVED & MASKED WHEN PACKING YOUR BOOK ORDER. *** ALL OF OUR BOOKS ARE IN STOCK & AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT. *** SPECIALTY: ART BOOKS *** We offer one of the world’s largest selections of rare and in stock art and design books including artists and subjects from all periods and all regions comprising all related fields: Art, Architecture, Photography, Monographs, Limited Editions, Catalogues Raisonnés, art history survey texts and scarce auction and exhibition catalogues from galleries and museums and publishers worldwide. *** BOOKS FROM ALL FIELDS: We offer a broad range of publications including scholarly reference works and textbooks in all areas of medicine (including the history of medicine) ranging from psychiatry, genetics, neurology, dermatology, OBG, surgery, psychology; as well as publications in all areas of the sciences and humanities and the arts, such as: philosophy, history, economics, politics, physics, chemistry, computers, biology and medicine, along with music, literature, and painting. *** COLLECTIONS IN ALL AREAS OF THE ARTS: We welcome inquiries about our vast collections under Amazon headings including: paintings, watercolors,drawings, etchings, lithographs, autographs, letters, rare documents and artist albums. *** INQUIRIES WELCOME SHIPPING UPGRADE: DOMESTIC USA FREE COURIER SERVICE: FedEx / Courier Free Upgrade for customers in the US where applicable.*** EUROZONE & OTHER CUSTOMERS OUTSIDE THE US: Free or Discounted FedEx or USPS Priority Shipping Upgrade available for shipments to customers outside the US. Please inquire for details on this offer. Customer responible for all VAT…
Specialty
BOOKS FROM ALL FIELDS: We offer a broad range of publications including scholarly reference worksSeller's business information
Bernard W. Schlesinger Foundation, Incorporated
278 Route 52
Liberty, NY U.S.A. 12754
Terms of sale
Expect Exemplary Service With Our “Customer-First Philosophy”
ALL OF OUR BOOKS ARE IN STOCK & AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT. ***
SPECIALTY: ART BOOKS *** We offer one of the world’s largest selections of rare and in stock art and design books including artists and subjects from all periods and all regions comprising all related fields: Art, Architecture, Photography, Monographs, Limited Editions, Catalogues Raisonnés, art history survey texts and scarce auction and exhibition catalogues from galleries and museums and publishers worldwide. ***
With our exemplary service and “Customer First” Philosophy, we guarantee careful and personalized attention to every detail: from order fulfillment to extremely careful and protective packaging; we offer an upgrade to courier shipping and insurance with signed-for delivery (see details below). Our search capabilities are unrivaled permitting us to make the claim that we can provide virtually any publications our customers require.
BOOKS FROM ALL FIELDS: We offer a broad range of publications including scholarly reference works and textbooks in all areas of medicine (including the history of medicine) ranging from psychiatry, genetics, neurology, dermatology, OBG, surgery, psychology; as well as publications in all areas of the sciences and humanities and the arts, such as: philosophy, history, economics, politics, physics, chemistry, computers, biology and medicine, along with music, literature, and painting. ***
INQUIRIES WELCOME: We welcome inquiries: Simply send us an email message with your contact number (include hours of availability) and we will freely provide our expertise and exemplary service to assist you in every way possible with your Abebooks purchasing decision. Please request information about our unique “Customer-First” Philosophy ***
SHIPPING UPGRADE:
DOMESTIC USA FREE COURIER SERVICE: FedEx / Courier Free Upgrade for customers in the US where applicable.***
EUROZONE & OTHER CUSTOMERS OUTSIDE THE US: Free or Discounted FedEx or USPS Priority Shipping Upgrade available for shipments to customers outside the US. Please inquire for details on this offer. Customer responsible for all VAT.
Shipping terms
SHIPPING UPGRADE:
DOMESTIC USA FREE COURIER SERVICE: FedEx / Courier Free Upgrade for customers in the US where applicable.***
EUROZONE & OTHER CUSTOMERS OUTSIDE THE US: Free or Discounted FedEx or USPS Priority Shipping Upgrade available for shipments to customers outside the US. Please inquire for details on this offer. Customer responible for all VAT.
With our exemplary service and “Customer First” Philosophy, we guarantee careful and personalized attention to every detail: from order fulfillment to extremely careful and protective packaging; we offer an upgrade to courier shipping and insurance with signed-for delivery (see details below). Our search capabilities are unrivaled permitting us to make the claim that we can provide virtually any publications our customers require.