Ancient Greek and Roman Science The term 'science' is used to refer to attempts to explain and understand the natural world in ancient Greece and Rome. It distinguishes science from technology, which focuses on controlling nature. The word 'science' is related to the Latin word for knowledge, while 'technology' refers to attempts at control rather than understanding.
Accessing Ancient Knowledge Our access to ancient knowledge about the natural world primarily comes through written texts, artifacts that survived, descriptions of artifacts, accounts of experiments carried out by philosophers like Aristotle. Some writings have been lost or are only available as fragments quoted by later authors.
Broadening Our Understanding 'Science' in antiquity was not only pursued by great figures but also involved anonymous individuals who contributed significantly. There were technical literature and scientific works beyond well-known names such as Archimedes or Galen. Works aimed at entertaining people alongside educating them were part of broader Greek and Roman culture.