Groundbreaking Scientific Experiments, Inventions, and Discoveries of the Ancient World

This reference work describes the trial-and-error experiments, discoveries, and inventions of early humans who lived from before recorded history to the Middle Ages. Krebs travels through the ancient periods of Egypt, China, and Mesoamerica, to the classical Greek and Roman periods, and finally to the Christian era, providing students with the link between science and history, while revealing information about many cultures around the world. Each entry provides the who, when, and where of each discovery, invention, or experiment. Entries include calendars, gunpowder, anesthesia, contraception, spontaneous generation, the Arctic Circle, language, and tides.

Part of the Groundbreaking Experiments, Inventions, and Discoveries through the Ages series, this book provides readers with a detailed look early humans' relation to world around them and the scientific advancements they made. It will be useful to high school and college students, teachers, and the general public interested in the history and science behind ancient civilizations.

ROBERT KREBS is retired Associate Dean for Research at the University of Illinois Health Sciences. He is also a former science teacher, science specialist for the U.S. Government, and university reasearch administrator.

CAROLYN A. KREBS began her literary career in the textbook division of the McGraw-Hill Book Company in New York City. Before retiring to South Padre Island to assist her husband, Robert, in writing science books, she was the Executive Director of the Fort Wayne, Indiana Medical Society.