A History of Magic and Experimental Science, Volume 2 (of 2): During the First Thirteen Centuries of Our Era

This second volume of Lynn Thorndike's comprehensive history examines the relationship between magic and experimental science during the first thirteen centuries of the common era. It details how early thinkers grappled with natural phenomena, often through alchemical pursuits, astrological calculations, and the interpretation of omens. The work meticulously traces the development of scientific thought alongside magical traditions, showing how concepts like sympathy, correspondences, and the influence of celestial bodies remained prevalent in learned circles. Thorndike presents a detailed account of the intellectual currents that informed both empirical investigation and esoteric beliefs. The book analyzes a wide range of medieval texts, from those focused on practical arts and medicine to more philosophical treatises. It highlights the ways in which observation and experimentation, even in their nascent forms, interacted with and were sometimes constrained by prevailing magical worldviews. Thorndike's scholarship reveals the continuity of certain ideas and practices across this long period, demonstrating that the separation between science and magic was not always as clear as modern perspectives suggest. The volume offers a scholarly overview of a complex intellectual history.