The Divided Circle: A History of Instruments for Astronomy, Navigation and Surveying by J. A. Bennett

Abstract

680 Book Reviews TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE neering study of the armillary sphere, a remarkable artifact demon­ strating the combination of Western influence with surviving tradi­ tional East Asian calendrical science. Illustrated throughout with excellent photographs and drawings, The Hall of Heavenly Records is supplemented with a chronological appendix of the kings of the Yi dynasty, an exhaustive bibliography, and a comprehensive index. It adds a welcome chapter to the history of East Asian astronomy and horology, supplementing the monumen­ tal Science and Civilisation in China series. Silvio A. Bedini Mr. Bedini is a research associate at the Smithsonian Institution. The Divided Circle: A History ofInstrumentsfor Astronomy, Navigation and Surveying. By J. A. Bennett. Oxford: Phaidon· Christie’s Ltd., 1987. Pp. 224; illustrations, bibliography, indexes. £45.00; $75.00. The term “scientific instrument” was coined in the 19th century to identify the tools of the new realm of science, narrowly defined. English-speaking scientists and instrument makers never understood the term to be synonymous with any of the older categories of instruments. In Germany, however, where Wissenschaft retained its broad connotation, a wide range of instruments were termed wissenschaftlich . Following German precedent, English historians in the early 20th century broadened the meaning of “scientific” to include many mathematical, optical, and philosophical instruments, as well as the tools of observation and experiment. In so doing they skewed our understanding of the past by emphasizing the scientific components of these instruments and neglecting their connections with technology and commerce. J. A. Bennett recognizes the traditional distinction between the instruments of practical mathematics, particularly those used to measure angular distances, and instruments used to investigate physical properties. Lie does, however, tend to stress the scientific aspects of mathematical instruments. Historians of technology will appreciate Bennett’s clear descriptions of the various instruments with divided circles, but might wish for more information on such questions as how these instruments were produced and what instru­ ment makers contributed to and borrowed from contemporary technologies. At a time when American museums are turning to social history, apparently losing interest in the technical aspects of their collections, Bennett’s emphasis on the design and development of instruments is particularly welcome. His text is enlivened with 259 illustrations, of which sixteen are full-page color plates, which clearly show the beauty and technical details of the various instruments. Bennett serves as TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE Book Reviews 681 curator of the Whipple Museum of the History of Science at Cam­ bridge, and many of his examples are taken from that excellent collection. Unfortunately, while strong on European instruments, this book is unreliable for those made in America. Written primarily for collectors—hence its publication by a noted auction house—this book contains much of interest to scholars. It has an excellent bibliography, but the lack of footnotes will prove a hindrance to those not already familiar with the literature. Deborah Jean Warner Ms. Warner, curator, history of physical sciences at the National Museum of American History, is interested in the question of what a scientific instrument is and when and w'hy it became one. A Brief History of Geomagnetism and a Catalog of the Collections of the National Museum of American History. By Robert P. Multhauf and Gregory Good. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1987. Pp. iii + 87; illustrations, notes, bibliography. Paper. The scientific study of geomagnetism may be said to begin with William Gilbert, who used compass and dip-needle to plot lines of force with the idea that global coordinates might be found to plot the course of a ship traversing the Atlantic. After the early practical needs, there were to develop much more exacting scientific needs to advance geomagnetic theory, and during the 19th century some of the finest scientific minds became involved. Alexander von Humboldt started his 9,000-mile journey around Russia and Siberia in 1829, and, because he was already famous and influential, his proposals for a series of geomagnetic and meteorolog­ ical observatories were surprisingly quickly adopted. His enthusiastic interest in terrestrial magnetism led him to persuade learned societies and governments to his way of thinking, and between 1829 and 1834 there existed a Humboldtian “magnetische Verein.” The British, having already...