Science in Ancient India
by Melissa Stewart
Franklin Watts/Grolier, 1999
Science of the Past series
for Grades 4-6
ISBN 978-0-531-11626-5
Purchase this book at your local independent bookseller or Amazon.com.
This book outlines and describes the scientific contributions of ancient India, including Arabic numerals, ayurveda, basic chemistry and physics, and celestial observations.
Research Notes
“This book required a lot of research because it covers many different topics and because most general reference books about ancient India focus on politics, customs, and religion—not science, medicine, and math. I spoke with and exchanged email with several Indian scholars. They were able to give me some information directly and also recommended references that I could acquire through interlibrary loan. When I first started working on this book, I had no idea what the ancient Indians had contributed to the world and was impressed with their knowledge and accomplishments."
Reviews
“This attractive title begins with a brief overview of Indian history. A timeline places the various empires and cultures in context. Succeeding chapters look at medicine, mathematics, astronomy, and physics, with an emphasis on [what] Indian scientists and philosophers understood centuries before their counterparts in Western Europe . Indian scientists and mathematicians are named and quoted whenever possible. Overall, a useful and unique resource."
—School Library Journal
Copyright 2007-2010 Melissa Stewart. All rights reserved.
All materials on this site may be copied for classroom or library use but may not be reprinted or resold for commercial purposes.