This is the first book in any language to attempt a comprehensive discussion of the relations between government, technology and science in Philip II's Spain. In histories of early-modern European technology and science, Spain has consistently been overlooked; yet the assumption that Spain contributed little in these fields has hardly been tested against archival evidence. Dr Goodman redresses this misconception. Through extensive research of source material he offers a reconsideration of Philip's relations with technology and the sciences, showing the crown's considerable involvement in technological affairs, ranging through shipbuilding, military engineering, mining, and the organisation of medical provision. The king's interest in astrology and alchemy are also re-assessed, as are reactions to the occult in official circles, including the Inquisition. This book will appeal beyond historians of science, with relevance to all historians interested in sixteenth-century Spanish civilisation and society.
- ISBN13 9780521524773
- Publish Date 15 August 2002 (first published 28 April 1988)
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 7 May 2024
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Cambridge University Press
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 288
- Language English