This Thematic Session seeks to challenge persistent stereotypes regarding the alleged hostility—or, at best, skepticism—of Byzantine culture toward innovation, particularly in the realm of science. It focuses on the mathematical sciences (especially arithmetic and astronomy), medicine, and alchemy as privileged case studies. The discussants’ primary objectives include identifying and analyzing various “types” of innovation (e.g., radical vs. incremental) within these three fields; exploring the potential cross-disciplinary impact of innovative practices; and investigating interactions with contemporary Western and Islamicate intellectual traditions as possible catalysts for innovation. To frame the discussion, conceptual terms will be examined in two distinct areas: the understanding of “innovation” in modern historiography, and Byzantine perceptions of “innovation”. Innovations in Byzantine science will be further viewed as outcomes of social, political, and cultural processes and transformations. This approach aligns with recent developments in Innovation Studies and with contemporary trends in the History of Science that regard science as a social and cultural phenomenon constantly interacting with other domains of human activity. The session aims not only to highlight the presence of innovation in Byzantine science—thereby helping to refute the historiographical stereotype of an anti-innovative Byzantium—but also to demonstrate that the concept of “innovation,” when appropriately delineated, may serve as a useful analytical tool for understanding the development of Byzantine science.
Modern historiography traditionally views Islamic/Arabic and Byzantine science as bound by ancient authority. Yet it attributes more “innovation” to Islamic/Arabic than to Byzantine science. This is especially important for modern narratives that perceive the development of science as a series of innovations that ultimately lead to “modern” science. During the last two or three decades,…
After a preliminary discussion of the relationship between Byzantine scientific thought and notions that we would now classify under the term “innovation”, the paper heuristically explores the presence and function of this concept within Byzantine alchemy. In contrast with historiographical views that portray Byzantine science—and alchemy in particular—as resistant to innovation, it argues that Byzantine…
This paper examines the newly introduced concept of “innovation” in Byzantine medicine, offering a critical analysis of its application across various medical works from different periods. By focusing on key examples from the field of uroscopy, it highlights significant developments in Byzantine medical practice. The talk scrutinises the work of Theophilos (7th or 9th c.),…