The Forgotten Revolution: How Science Was Born in 300 BC and Why it Had to Be Reborn
From the reviews:"Russo has achieved and exhibited an extensive survey of science in the Hellenistic world at the time after Aristotle … . The treat in store for the reader of this book is the vast learning that Lucio Russo has acquired, which he explains with lucidity. … it is useful for private study, for one’s own enlightenment; on the other it will enrich every science course and every history course that involves these time periods." (Samuel S. Kutler, MAA online, September, 2004)"Russo presents an enticing vision of a Hellenistic world with a highly organized scientific effort that lasted for centuries. … The copious, informative and useful illustrations in this beautifully produced volume intensify the sense of what was lost when this great civilization went into decline and perished." (Mott Greene, NATURE, August, 2004)"The central thesis of the book is that science originated in the Hellenistic period … . To summarize the book: It certainly has a number of good points. The author has combed through ¼200 medieval texts (plus others). There are lots of footnotes identifying sources (even in different editions of the same book) and an index of writings consulted (with page numbers). … a very remarkable book in its depth and the boldness of its claims." (Nimish Shah, Newsletter of the London Mathematical Society, March, 2005)