Springer Ptolemy in Perspective: Ancient Science & Influence

Ptolemy in Perspective examines how one of antiquity's most influential natural philosophers shaped scientific thought across fifteen centuries. This scholarly work traces the evolution of Ptolemy's reputation from his own era through the nineteenth century, documenting how his groundbreaking writings on astronomy, astrology, and geography served simultaneously as inspiration, foundation, and focal point for criticism. Through nine detailed studies, the book reveals the complex intellectual processes by which an ancient scientist achieved unprecedented authority, then gradually lost his overreaching dominance in Western thought. Essential for understanding how classical knowledge was transmitted, transformed, and eventually challenged during the medieval and early modern periods.