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Measuring the New World: Enlightenment Science and South America
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Measuring the New World: Enlightenment Science and South America Hardcover - 2008

by Neil Safier


From the publisher

Prior to 1735, South America was terra incognita to many Europeans. But that year, the Paris Academy of Sciences sent a mission to the Spanish American province of Quito (in present-day Ecuador) to study the curvature of the earth at the Equator. Equipped with quadrants and telescopes, the mission's participants referred to the transfer of scientific knowledge from Europe to the Andes as a "sacred fire" passing mysteriously through European astronomical instruments to observers in South America.By taking an innovative interdisciplinary look at the traces of this expedition, Measuring the New World examines the transatlantic flow of knowledge from West to East. Through ephemeral monuments and geographical maps, this book explores how the social and cultural worlds of South America contributed to the production of European scientific knowledge during the Enlightenment. Neil Safier uses the notebooks of traveling philosophers, as well as specimens from the expedition, to place this particular scientific endeavor in the larger context of early modern print culture and the emerging intellectual category of scientist as author.

Details

  • Title Measuring the New World: Enlightenment Science and South America
  • Author Neil Safier
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition First Edition
  • Pages 428
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois
  • Date June 15, 2008
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9780226733555 / 0226733556
  • Weight 1.65 lbs (0.75 kg)
  • Dimensions 9 x 6.3 x 1.3 in (22.86 x 16.00 x 3.30 cm)
  • Themes
    • Chronological Period: 18th Century
    • Cultural Region: Latin America
  • Library of Congress subjects South America - Historical geography, Amazon River Region - Discovery and
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2008018142
  • Dewey Decimal Code 509.033

Media reviews

Citations

  • Chronicle of Higher Education, 11/07/2008, Page 28

About the author

Neil Safier is associate professor of history at the University of British Columbia.

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Measuring the New World: Enlightenment Science and South America
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Measuring the New World: Enlightenment Science and South America

by Safier, Neil

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Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, 2012. Paperback. VG-. Bowing to front cover. Light shelf war. Inscribed by author on title page.. Green and color-illustrated wraps; green spine with black title plate, yellow and white lettering. xviii; 387 pp. 59 BW figures. Chapters included the ruined pyramids of Yaruqui, an enlightened Amazon, armchair explorers, correcting Quito, a nation defamed and defended, Incas in the King's Garden, the Golden Monkey and the Monkey-Worm, and a conclusion of cartographers, concubines, and fugitive slaves.
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Measuring the New World: Enlightenment Science and South America

Measuring the New World: Enlightenment Science and South America

by Safier, Neil

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University of Chicago Press, 2008. Hardcover. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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Measuring the New World: Enlightenment Science and South America

Measuring the New World: Enlightenment Science and South America

by Neil Safier

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New. Prior to 1735, South America was largely terra incognita to many Europeans. But that year, the Paris Academy of Sciences sent a joint French and Spanish mission to the Spanish American province of Quito (in present-day Ecuador) to study the curvature of the Earth at the Equator - an expedition that would put South America on the map and in the minds of Europeans for centuries to come. Equipped with quadrants and telescopes, the mission's participants referred to the transfer of scientific knowledge from Europe to the Andes as a "sacred fire" passing mysteriously through European astronomical instruments to curious observers in South America.By looking at the social and material traces of this expedition, "Measuring the New World" examines the transatlantic flow of knowledge in reverse - from West to East. Through ephemeral monuments and geographical maps, from the Andes to the Amazon River, the book explores how the social and cultural worlds of South… Read More
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$111.68
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Measuring the New World  Enlightenment Science and South America
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Measuring the New World Enlightenment Science and South America

by Safier, Neil

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Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780226733555 / 0226733556
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Univ of Chicago Pr, 2008. Hardcover. New. illustrated edition. 428 pages. 9.25x6.50x1.25 inches.
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