The Science of History: Ingenious Inventions from the Ancient Romans to Pirates, Vikings, Cowboys, Samurais, and More

Author/Contributor(s):	Brake, Mark; Bryant, Benjamin
Publisher:	Prometheus
Date:	11/3/2026
Binding:	Paperback
Condition:	NEW

We may think of ancient cultures as rudimentary – but in reality, the humans living hundreds and even thousands of years ago were remarkably savvy, establishing the foundations of the same science that we use today. From early Mesopotamia to the Stone Age, through Ancient Greece and Rome, the pirates of medieval England and the seafaring Vikings of Scandinavia, the time of the Samurai, Chinese dynasties, and cowboy cultures from the American West to South American ranches and the Mongolian tundra, The Science of History showcases how different peoples at different times have observed nature, reached rational conclusions, developed scientific techniques, invented revolutionary tools, and devised shockingly creative ways not only to explain the world about them, but to thrive in it. 

Within the Earth, humans found medicine; within the Air, navigation; within Fire, warfare; and within Water, the ability to manipulate their environment. Discover the origins of surprisingly sophisticated ancient science in this fascinating look at human ingenuity, such as: 

- Terraced Farming (Ancient Andes, China) 

- Samurai Land Stewardship (c. C16th) 

- Roman Concrete (c. 3rd century BC)

 - Stonehenge (c. 3100 BC, England) 

- Samurai Armor Crafting (c. C16th) 

- Viking Battlefield Herbalism (793–1066 AD, Scandinavia) 

- The Pirate Compass (C17th–18th, England) 

- Kilns (c. 6000 BC)

 - Cowboy Navigation (c. 1865–1900) 

- Firefighting Pumps (Ancient Greece/Rome) 

- Pirate Meteorology (C17th–18th)

Bursting with clever stories and fun facts, textboxes, lists, and features, readers can open any page of The Science of History and learn something new.