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History of Science Alexandria Library

History of Science Online

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LibraryThing: Science in Ancient Mesopotamia Week 5: Hellenistic Science

Hellenistic science

This week our whirlwind tour takes us through the Hellenistic period, the time between the conquests of Alexander the Great and the rise of the Roman empire. This is the period, after Alexander, when the Near Eastern accomplishments we explored in Week 2 became widely known in the west. During the Hellenistic period, the intellectual center of activity shifted from Athens to Alexandria (Egypt), and being Greek referred not to someone who lived in one of the little city states, but to a new world culture that spread as a unifying force throughout the Mediterranean and Near East. Despite the brevity of our visit, our aim will be to get to know the science of this time in terms of its Hellenistic culture. We'll not be like tourists in Alexandria who seek fast food at McDonald's. (Dates to remember.)

Hellenistic science assignments

#

 Due Date*
Pts
 Activity Time
1.1 Tuesday 8/26
11:59 p.m.*		 10

1. Starting Assumptions
Think about what you know already about the culture and period, share your knowledge and experience with other students in the class

 30 min.
1.2 Wednesday 8/27
11:59 p.m.*		 25

2. Topic 1: Mathematical sciences + Quiz
Background: Without a sense of context, history is anachronistic.
Primary sources: Without documentary evidence, history is speculation
The first of two topic assignments per week involving both background and primary sources.

 90 min.
1.3 Thursday 8/28
11:59 p.m.*		 25

3. Topic 2: Medicine + Quiz
Background: Without a sense of context, history is anachronistic.
Primary sources: Without documentary evidence, history is speculation
The second of two topic assignments per week involving both background and primary sources.

 90 min.
1.4 Friday 8/29
11:59 p.m.*		 20 4. Interpretation
Unless it explains, history is trivial.
Write a short persuasive essay agreeing or disagreeing with a common interpretation about the topic and expressing your own view.
60 min.
1.5 Monday
11:59 p.m.		 10 5. Online Resource Project
Over the course of the semester, we will assemble a catalog of online resources for exploring the history of science.
 60 min.
1.6 Monday 8/31
11:59 p.m.*		 10

6. Reflection + Peer Responses
Think about all that you did this week, including reading the Interpretation Essays of other students, and share your thoughts and ideas with other students in the class

 30 min.
 Total pts
 100
Total time
 6 hours

 

 

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HSCI 3013. History of Science to 17th centuryCreative Commons license
Kerry Magruder, Instructor, 2004-14
Brent Purkaple, TA

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Many thanks to the pedagogical model developed in Mythology and Folklore and other online courses by Laura Gibbs, which have been an inspiration for this course.

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This course is currently undergoing major reconstruction to bring it into alignment with the new version of the course at Janux