Routledge Ancient Natural History: Histories of Nature Book

Explore how people in the ancient world understood the natural world with Ancient Natural History: Histories of Nature. This scholarly work by Roger French examines the writings of influential figures such as Aristotle, Theophrastus, Strabo, and Pliny. It also looks at the popular beliefs held by people during those eras. This book provides a deep look into how natural-historical material was applied across different contexts. You will see how the same information served the needs of both Greek philosophers and Christian allegorists. It also compares the work of taxonomists like Theophrastus with collectors of curiosa like Pliny. Roger French presents a compelling argument regarding the motives of ancient writers. He suggests that their goals were rarely purely scientific and explores the idea that true science as we know it did not exist in that period. This is an essential read for those interested in the history of science and ancient Greek civilization.