A History of Magic and Experimental Science, Volume 1 (of 2) During the First Thirteen Centuries of Our Era

From the bustling streets of ancient Rome to the quiet scriptoria of thirteenth‑century monasteries, this volume maps the tangled relationship between magic and the budding experiments of early science. The author weaves together excerpts from Pliny, Seneca, Galen, and early Christian writers, showing how divination, astrology, and alchemical lore were debated alongside natural philosophy. By treating each chapter as a conversation across centuries, the book invites listeners to hear how scholars once pursued hidden forces with the same curiosity that drives modern research.

Readers will meet colorful figures such as the mystical Hildegard of Bingen, the skeptical Thomas Aquinas, and the adventurous Michael Scot, each illustrating a different facet of medieval inquiry. The narrative balances detailed manuscript references with clear explanations, making the complex evolution of ideas accessible without sacrificing depth. As a result, the work offers a vivid portrait of a world where wonder and rigor walked hand in hand, perfect for anyone fascinated by the origins of scientific thought.