Nature and Empire: Science and the Colonial Enterprise

Surveying Africa, Asia, and the Americas, this important new collection looks at roles of science, medicine, and technology during five centuries of colonialism. This thought-provoking history examines the many intersections of science, politics, and culture during colonialism, including the relation between racism and medical science, "exploration" and its potential for wealth, and the perceived differences between indigenous knowledge and European science. Sixteen chapters focus on such topics as intellectual property rights and biodiversity, "acclimatizing" the world, and science and development. Bringing together contributions from scholars of history and science from around the globe, Nature and Empire forges a new path for readers interested in science and society during the modern era.

Roy M. Macleod is a professor of history at the University of Sydney. He is the author of numerous books on the social theory of science, including Science and the Pacific War: Science & Survival in the Pacific, 1939-1954 and The Commonwealth of Science.