Mineral Processing to Elemental Science in The Medieval World India and Europe-Arun Kumar Biswas-9788192061528
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Mineral Processing to Elemental Science in The Medieval World India and Europe-Arun Kumar Biswas
| This
dissertation seeks to critically review the birth and progress of mineral
processing to modern chemistry during the three momentous centuries (16th to
18th) in medieval Europe. It has been necessary to record as a prelude, the
progress on minerals, metals and chemistry in the ancient and medieval India,
and to review the thirteenth century mineral processing text
Rasa-Ratna-Samuccaya, since the 13th century marked the transition in the
medieval world: decline of the Indian and Arab sciences, the Mongol invasion
and the gradual ascent of the West.Georgius Agricola' s (1494-1555)
monumental work De Re Metallica
signified not only a turning point in the annals of mineral
processing, but also the first ever questioning of alchemy. What was the
nature of scientific renaissance of Europe which permitted the early
development of modern astronomy, but not of modem chemistry for two
centuries, till Lavoisier showed us the way ? The author has examined this
question in detail, and also another in a thread bare fashion: why scientific
renaissance did not occur in India when it took place in Europe.This
monograph contains numerous illustrations for which we are deeply indebted to
various pioneers such as the M.I.T. Archives, the Dover Publication, New York
etc. The present author has designed the JACKET of the book displaying three
illustrations : (1) the first ever 16th century German stamp mill for mineral
comminution driven by natural water power, (2) the 13th century Indian
vrntaka muss, brinjal-shaped retort, used for reduction of zinc ore and
downward distillation of the metal (scientifically investigated by the
present author at the IIT, Kanpur during the 1980's), and (3) Lavoisier's
apparatus (1789) demonstrating absorption of the 'oxygen' part in air in
heated mercury, and calcination of the resultant mercuric oxide to produce
the identical quantity of the first ever christened modern element. |
| Book | |
| ISBN | 9788192061528 |
| PUBLISHER | Asiatic Society |
| Pages | 427 |
| Binding | Hardback |
| Edition | 2011 |
| Language | English |
Tags: Mineral Processing to Elemental Science in The Medieval World India and Europe-Arun Kumar Biswas