University of Maryland - Fall 2004
HIST 401
Study Questions for Topic 2
Islam & China

Questions numbered in multiples of 5 are essay questions (equivalent to 40% on midterm exam); the others are short-answer, one or two paragraphs (10%).

* indicates questions that will not be on an exam but may be used for extra-credit assignments.

"Identify" means give nationality, profession or field of research, major contribution to science/philosophy and its date within ± 100 years.  For a concept or term, explain its meaning and historical significance, including the name of its inventor or person most often associated with it.

If you are unsure about the meaning of any word in the readings or lectures, use a dictionary or ask in class. Exams may include questions asking for the definitions of unusual words that are important in the history of science.

None of these questions may be answered simply "yes" or "no."

When handing in answers for extra credit, indicate which question you are answering by giving its number (e.g. "Topic 1, no. 6")

1. What is the geographical reason why civilization did not develop as rapidly in the African and American continents as it did in the Eurasian continent, according to Diamond?
2. When Europeans arrived in America around 1500, why did they win the war of germs? (I.e., what was the major reason why Europeans had germs to which they were immune but which killed Native Americans who were not immune -- but not conversely, according to Diamond?)
3. (a) What were the two "indisputably-independent inventions of writing" -- where and when?
   (b) What were two other "possibly-independent" inventions, according to Diamond?
4. What is the "rebus principle" and what is its significance in the development of civilization?
5. "Necessity is the mother of invention." Discuss, in the light of examples given by Diamond.
6. How did the alphabets of modern languages arise? And when did the first alphabet appear, according to Diamond?
7. Why do we use QWERTY despite its obvious defects? Give another example that illustrates the same process.
8. What were two reasons why food production was decisive in the history of civilization, according to Diamond?
9. Lindberg mentions two questions about the introduction of Greek science in Islam: (a) why did Muslim rulers pay for translation and study of Greek science; (b) How were the translated works received by literate Muslims and how well did Greek science blend with Islamic culture? Summarize two alternative answers to each question.
10. Discuss Huff's assertion that theological systems are a major factor leading to modern science: why or why not?
11. Give 2 examples (mentioned by Huff) of the privileged status of science in the modern world. How are they relevant to the study of the history of science?
12. According to Ben-David, the rise of modern science depends on the establishment of a publicly-recognized role for the scientists, and this first happened in England in the 17th century. What 2 objections does Huff make to this statement?
13. When was the word scientist invented, by whom, and why?
14. What is Merton's "ethos of science"? Define its 4 norms; which one might provoke hostility to science in some societies?
15. Huff asserts that "law and legal thought" is a major factor leading to modern science. Why? Discuss the validity of this assertion (evidence for & against).
16. According to Huff what are the two main meanings of Kuhn's term "paradigm"? Compare with Kuhn's own discussion in his article "What are Scientific Revolutions" -- i.e., what is it that changes in a revolution?
17. How does Kuhn's account of the mathematical and empirical traditions, along with the date of the invention of the word "scientist," undermine the idea that "modern science" was established by a "Scientific Revolution" in the 17th century?
18. "Newton was not a British scientist." Discuss.
19. "Joseph Needham was the most important historian of science in the 20th century." Discuss.
20. Did China or Islam come closer to giving birth to modern science? Discuss.
21. Summarize the evidence for the statement that Arabic science (including mathematics) was more advanced than Chinese science from the 8th through 14th century AD. What crucial advantage did the Arabs have that the Chinese lacked or ignored?
22. What is the Tusi couple? Explain how it works, using diagrams.
23. What is the relation between Nasir al-Din al-Tusi and Copernicus?  Why is that relation both intriguing and frustrating for historians of science?
24. Is Huff's book a secondary or tertiary source for the history of science?
25. *Huff says many Arabic and Persian scientific manuscripts are "still unread" by modern historians (presumably as of 1988 when Emilie Savage-Smith published her survey). Using the History of Science & Technology electronic database through Victor, find what manuscripts have been analyzed since 1987 that are relevant to the "decline of Arabic science" and summarize the significance of 2 or 3 of them.
26. *Present evidence that Huff (a) does, or (b) does not have a firm understanding of the technical aspects of the science he writes about.
27. Huff says it is "neither trivial nor partisan to raise the question of 'Why Arabic science ... failed to give birth to modern science'" Why might that question be considered offensive and how does he reply to this criticism?
28. What does Huff mean by the "naturalization" of science in Islam. What sociological concept is involved?
29. What was the social status of scientists and mathematicians in medieval Islam?
30. (No question)
31. How did the structure of the educational system in medieval Islam retard the development of science?
32. "Sabra's naturalization (or Islamization) thesis clearly entails the logical consequence of the decline and fall of Arabic science." Explain.
33. "Science is above all a system of error detection" (Huff, p. 238). Discuss.
34. *According to Huff (p 247; 250 in 2nd edition) "the two largest groups of foreign students studying the sciences and technology in the United States are from Taiwan and mainland China." Find data for UMCP and compare the percentages.
35. (No question)
36. (No question)
37. How is the foundation principle of Chinese law different from (a) Islamic law, (b) Western law?
38. Give 2 reasons why the Chinese system of examinations for government jobs did not favor science.

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