Roman Tradition
This tradition is a continuation of the Greek tradition of
science. The total suffered by the stagnation of Greek science
was due to socio-political instability arising from the wars
between the Greek city states. By the second century AD. Greece
fell to the Romans. The Romans were prepared to accept the
religious and mystical ideas of Greece rather than their philosophy
and natural sciences.
Nevertheless, there have been some encouraging developments,
one relates to Lucretius a great thinker who, in the best tradition
of Greek science proposed his atomic theory. It was quite advanced
and sophisticated for its time. In addition the concept of Roman
law and order in society, supported the idea of a universal
law of nature. Érudits as Cato, Vasso and Cellsus written
encyclopedias on agriculture and medicine. Pliny the enclyclopaedia
about the natural history and the geography, mathematics, physics,
anthropology, physiology, zoology, botany and so on by Gellius,
Serenus, Papas and others are of significant contributions to
the advancement of knowledge. Ptoleny was a great astronomer
and mathematician. His geocentric geostatic and most influential
theories astronomers until the 17th century.His book "Almagest"
also highlights the principles of spherical geometry, the dimensions
of the earth, the coordinates of places and climate. He has
made several trip. Roman mathematics benefited from the work
of Diophantus in arithmetic, especially in the numbers and polygonal
indefinite analysis. The Roman numbering system, is unique in
its own and used in Europe for a long time. However, it is quite
inappropriate to modern science, which uses Arabic numerals
from India. Some important contributions in respect of simple,
using Arabic numerals from India. Some important contributions
in respect of simple machines has been made in the period of
Heron. He discussed levers, windlasses, wedges, screws and pulleys.
He had also investigated the nature of hydropower and the use
of tires for pumps, organs, water and water clocks machines.
Plant science and medicine also progressed to a certain extent,
under the Romans. In the first and second century AD, they started
a medical school and a school of medicine (Rufus), which excels
in anatomy. Galen is the most renowned medical scientist at
the time. He has written many books on medicine, anatomy, pathology,
treatment, diagnosis and as well as comments on the works of
Hippocrates. Galen works of authority remained until the 17th
century. Dedanius writing Di Metria Medica. Innovations in pharmaceuticals,
surgical instruments were also held at that time.
|
