Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Westen Cultures

This comprehensive reference work shatters the conventional narrative that science began with the Greeks, offering a monumental survey of scientific knowledge and innovation across the globe's many cultures. Helaine Selin meticulously assembles contributions that illuminate the sophisticated scientific traditions of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Islamic world, challenging the Eurocentric bias that has long dominated the history of science. The encyclopaedia's core purpose is to legitimize and centralize the study of these non-Western scientific achievements, presenting them not as footnotes but as foundational pillars of human knowledge. It acts as a crucial corrective, filling a significant void in both cultural studies and the historical record of scientific discovery.

What makes this volume indispensable is its ambitious synthesis of disparate fields, connecting astronomy from ancient Mesoamerica, medicine from the Indian subcontinent, and mathematics from the Arab world into a cohesive, global narrative. It is an essential resource for students, scholars, and any curious reader seeking to understand the true, multicultural roots of science, free from the traditional constraints of a Western-focused curriculum. By placing these diverse traditions side-by-side, the book doesn't just add context; it fundamentally recontextualizes our entire understanding of humanity's intellectual journey. The final impact is a profound and necessary expansion of what we consider science and who we credit for its advancement.