Thomas Harriot: Science and Discovery in the English Renaissance

This volume explores the life and work of Thomas Harriot, a 16th-century polymath who made significant contributions to mathematics, natural philosophy, exploration, and colonial ambition. It includes original perspectives on his achievements and the broader contexts of his time, highlighting his Briefe and true report of the new found land of Virginia (1588), the first detailed description of America published in English. The volume also features reworked versions of seven Thomas Harriot Lectures, an annual lecture series inaugurated in 1990 at Oriel College, Oxford.

Format: Hardback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 29 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating volume delves into the life and legacy of one of the most remarkable polymaths of the English Renaissance. It presents fresh insights not only into Harriot's remarkable achievements in mathematics and natural philosophy but also into the broader realms of exploration, colonial ambition, and philosophical debate that garnered him the attention and admiration of contemporaries in and far beyond the socially esteemed circles of his two great patrons, Walter Ralegh and Henry Percy, the ninth Earl of Northumberland.

Harriot's sixteenth-century world was a time of remarkable expansion in scientific understanding and the discovery of new lands and peoples. The essays collected herein vividly showcase the impact of this expansive vision, encapsulated in Harriot's Briefe and true report of the new found land of Virginia (1588), the first detailed description of America to be published in the English language. In addition to an essay by a recent biographer of Harriot, the volume features reworked versions of seven Thomas Harriot Lectures, an annual lecture series inaugurated in 1990 at Oriel College, Oxford. It follows two earlier volumes of Harriot Lectures, also edited by Robert Fox, that were published in 2000 and 2012.

Harriot's personal achievements in mathematics and natural philosophy were truly remarkable. He made significant contributions to various fields, including cartography, astronomy, and mathematics. His work on the calculation of planetary orbits and the determination of latitude at sea earned him recognition and admiration from prominent figures such as Sir Christopher Wren and Robert Fludd. Harriot's dedication to exploration led him to travel extensively, visiting regions such as the Canary Islands, the Azores, and North America. His accounts of these voyages, written in his Briefe and true report of the new found land of Virginia, provided valuable insights into the geography, flora, and fauna of the New World.

However, Harriot's contributions went beyond his scientific endeavors. He was deeply involved in the broader political and colonial ambitions of his patrons, Walter Ralegh and Henry Percy. Harriot played a key role in the establishment of the Roanoke Colony in North America, which was intended to establish a permanent English settlement in the region. He also participated in several diplomatic missions, including those to Spain and Portugal, where he sought to strengthen England's relations with these European powers.

Harriot's philosophical beliefs were also noteworthy. He was a proponent of the Copernican heliocentric model of the solar system, which challenged the traditional Aristotelian worldview. He also believed in the importance of empirical observation and experimentation in the pursuit of scientific knowledge. Harriot's philosophical ideas influenced the work of other scientists and thinkers of his time, including Sir Francis Bacon and John Locke.

In conclusion, this volume offers a comprehensive and insightful examination of the life and legacy of Thomas Harriot. It sheds new light on his personal achievements, his contributions to scientific understanding, his involvement in colonial ambition, and his philosophical beliefs. The essays gathered here provide a valuable resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike, offering fresh perspectives on one of the most remarkable polymaths of the English Renaissance.

Weight: 474g
Dimension: 161 x 241 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367561376