User Profile

"Between two rivers" describes a number of artifacts from ancient Mesopotamia, from the viewpoint of the author. She describes how, as a student, she became fascinated with these civilizations that left us the oldest written records. She then takes us to Ennigaldi-Nanna's museum: an archeological site that, as the name suggests, is likely to have been a museum in the distant past. Artifacts from very different periods were found there, including lists (in clay) describing them. From here, several of these artifacts are discussed, each in their own chapter.

The chapters are lightened up by the author's personal story, focusing on how she relates to the ancient Mesopotamians. For example, she observes how even back then mothers sang lullabies to their babies like she did for her own children. Thus she shows us how the clay tablets and ancient ruins become a window into a once vibrant society. But the relation to ancient history seems forced in at least one place. When she describes a set of anatomically correct drawings, she observes that one among them did not have reproductive parts; she then concludes that this represented a nonbinary person. This conclusion seems drawn from preciously little evidence; surely the drawing could also represent a eunuch? Such hastened conclusions make one wonder if other interpretations are informed by 21st century ideals.

Although the artifacts themselves are clearly described, the bigger picture isn't always clear. There is a timeline but it is somewhat hidden at the back of the book; what's also missing is a map. It is clearly a popular-scientific publication with the emphasis on popular.

All in all, it is a pleasant read but it was not the introductory text I had hoped for.

This is a translation of "The Map of Knowledge", and discusses how scientific knowledge was advanced and preserved from Antiquity until the Renaissance, in Europe and the Middle East.

The book discusses the history of science. More specifically, it looks at the scientific world in seven cities in chronological order. These cities are Alexandria (mainly because of its library), Baghdad (under the Abbasid dynasty), Cordoba (under the Umayyad dynasty), Toledo (mostly under Alfonso X "The Wise"), Salerno, Palermo, and Venice.
While the first four cities are in clear chronological order, after that it feels like we're being moved forward and downward in time. A timeline would have helped to make things more clear.
Although the motivation for each town is clearly explained, it still sometimes feels arbitrary. Paris is mentioned often enough that it, too, might have been included. The book ends with the printing press, and how Venice became a primary source of printed books. This is a fitting end, as the dissemination of scientific knowledge was revolutionized and a new era began in the scientific world.
In the epilogue, it discusses how the telescope and microscope revolutionized science even further.

If you're interested in the medieval world, this is a worthwhile read.