Introduction

This Encycropaedia is an outstanding attempt to take full account as far as possible of the history of science and technology from ancient times to the twentieth century. At the same time, an attempt has been made to avoid burdening the text with petty details and maintain a smooth presentation, painting a whole integrated panorama of the history of science and technology. This set has the obvious advantage of covering large departments of knowledge, including the most ancient as well as recent information. It includes history of physics, chemistry, mathematics, biological sciences, computer science, and technology.

Content and Approach

In subject matter, an attempt has been undertaken by a careful division of topics to find a better balance. The major part of the material has been extracted from original sources. The point of view in the present work has been intended always to be objective, impartial, and free from conventional platitudes, though this is an ideal that is very difficult to attain. The main aim of this encyclopedia is to provide a survey of the history of science and technology with the goal of aiding the young student and layman.

Purpose and Audience

It is hoped that this set will encourage the reader to make his own investigations of various scientific phenomena. Throughout the process of compilation and editing, sincere efforts have been made to make this encyclopedia a ready reference for undergraduate and postgraduate students of science, biology, engineering, computer science, marine sciences, biochemistry, as well as for those appearing for competitive examinations, research scholars, teachers, and alike.