The historical narrative of science encompasses the
evolution of all facets of knowledge. If we regard science as a realm of
verified knowledge acquired through the accumulation of facts from observations
and experiments, then myth and religion predominantly served as frameworks for
understanding the world in early civilizations.
The Historical Tapestry of Science
The paradigm shift in this conceptualization began with the
early Greek philosophers, who excluded supernatural explanations from their
interpretations of reality. By the 3rd century B.C., Greek science had reached
a high level of sophistication, establishing theoretical models that have
influenced scientific progress ever since. While modern science is often
considered an heir to Greek scientific thought, and the Renaissance is credited
with a revival of Greek classics, these endeavors lacked a genuine scientific
approach based on observation and experimentation, rendering Greek science
inherently theoretical and rooted in philosophy.
Following the decline of Greece under the Roman Empire,
science suffered a setback. By the 5th century A.D., science was virtually
nonexistent in Western Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire. However,
Islamic culture played a pivotal role in preserving Greek knowledge and
reintroducing it to the Western world. Muslim scholars were instrumental in
making science practical and meaningful by emphasizing observation and
experimentation as essential components of scientific progress.
From approximately A.D. 200 to 1200, while Europe languished
in what is often termed the "Dark Ages," the scientific achievements
of Muslim scholars like Avicenna and Averroes resonated across the globe,
highlighting a period of vibrant scientific inquiry.
The historical progression of science can be delineated in
the following chronological sequence:
· MYTH AND SUPERSTITIONS
· BABYLONIAN SCIENCE
· EGYPTIAN SCIENCE
· GREEK SCIENCE
· ALEXANDRIAN SCIENCE
· ISLAMIC SCIENCE
· WESTERN SCIENCE
· MODERN SCIENCE
Post a Comment