Maria Paula Diogo

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE EUROPEAN PERIPHERY: SOME HISTORIOGRAPHICAL REFLECTIONS

In less than twenty years a number of developments have dramatically reshaped much of what was considered as common (historiographical) values among members of the established communities of historians of science and technology. The intense discussions concerning a number of theoretical issues, and the subsequent re-thinking of foundational historiographical problems, took place within a context characterized by the impressive scholarship produced by a continual increase in the number of scholars working in the history of science and technology, and also in the expanded range of themes to be studied. Relevant to this was an increase in funding, the establishment of new research centres, the availability of new academic positions, the consolidation of professional bodies, and the launching of many well-funded programs. Concomitantly, the proliferation of book series together with the access to a variety of new sources, and the implementation of a multitude of projects involving the digitalization of standard archival and bibliographical collections, all played a major role in defining the contours of the professional community of historians of science and the scope of the discipline. During the same period major transformations took place in both the actual study and the institutional contexts of the history of science and technology in a number of countries of the European periphery. On the whole, the developments which took place within the more established communities of historians of science and technology Hist. Sci., xlvi (2008)

Constructing Knowledge: Eighteenth-Century Portugal and the New Sciences

The high point of Portuguese science is associated with the Portuguese geographical discoveries of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. A period of decline ensued, which according to some historians continued until the middle of the eighteenth century. The revival of science associated with the modernisation of the Portuguese economy was linked to two events: the 1772 reform of the University of Coimbra implemented by the Marquis of Pombal (1699-1782) and the creation of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Lisbon in 1779, during the reign of Queen Maria I. Long before Pombal’s reforms, however, there was an awareness of the “new sciences.” In the final decades of the seventeenth century and the first half of the eighteenth century, some Portuguese showed interest in modern ideas, thereby starting a process which came to full fruition in the second half of the eighteenth century. The introduction, dissemination and consolidation of the Scientific Revolution in Portugal took a considerable time; it extended throughout the eighteenth century, covering the reigns of King Joao V (1707-1750), King Jose I (1750-1777) and Queen Maria I (1777-1792)1. Although they all shared an Absolutist political framework, there were considerable fluctuations in the political and religious orientations of the different monarchs.

Travels of Learning

Travels have without doubt been a perennial source of attraction not only to ordinary people but also to scholars in different fields, ranging from history, geography, anthropology, and literary studies to the history of science and technology. In the latter case travelling has played a prominent role in the context of colonialism and imperialism, but historians of science have seldom looked at travels within the European space, stretching from the Iberian Peninsula to the Balkans and the Scandinavian countries. This book will help to fill in this gap, by offering various case studies, which focus on travels of learning from some regions considered as peripheral to other regions recognised as centres of expertise. Before presenting the chapters in the volume, a general overview of the different types of travels and their respective backgrounds is provided, based on a review of the historical literature on travels, and the contributions to this volume.

Geology and religion in Portugal

This paper addresses the relationship between geology and religion in Portugal by focusing on three case studies of naturalists who produced original research and lived in different historical periods, from the eighteenth to the twentieth century. Whereas in non-peripheral European countries religious themes and even controversies between science and religion were dealt with by scientists and discussed in scientific communities, in Portugal the absence of a debate between science and religion within scientific and intellectual circles is particularly striking. From the historiographic point of view, in a country such as Portugal, where Roman Catholicism is part of the religious and cultural tradition, the influence of religion in all aspects of life has been either taken for granted by those less familiar with the national context or dismissed by local intellectuals, who do not see it as relevant to science. The situation is more complex than these dichotomies, rendering the study of this question particularly appealing from the historiographic point of view, geology being by its very nature a well-suited point from which to approach the theme. We argue that there is a long tradition of independence between science and religion, agnosticism and even atheism among local elites. Especially from the eighteenth century onwards, they are usually portrayed as enlightened minds who struggled against religious and political obscurantism. Religion—or, to be more precise, the Roman Catholic Church and its institutions—was usually identified with backwardness, whereas science was seen as the path to progress; consequently men of science usually dissociated their scientific production from religious belief.

STEP Matters: Historiographical Considerations

In this introduction, we revisit major discussions around historical themes and historiographical issues that took place during the fifteen-year life of STEP (Science and Technology at the European Periphery). We will attempt to draw the profile of STEP, and put forth some concrete proposals as to its prospects of collaboration with other groups and societies. We also elaborate on the rationale behind the selection of topics presented in this issue, analyse questions posed and challenges faced, and offer some historiographical comments on the potential of the STEP perspective in the context of international scholarship.

Re-Designing Africa: Railways and Globalization in the Era of the New Imperialism

In this chapter we propose to discuss the strategies deployed by Portugal, a peripheral country in nineteenth and twentieth century Europe, to use its African Empire as a token for asserting its position in the European arena. Beyond diplomatic and political demarches, technology—and particularly the building of railways—was at the core of the Portuguese imperial agenda, determining the way African territories were immersed in the global market. Engineers played a central role in this process by discussing and eventually deciding the layout of the railway lines that were at the core of new anthropogenic landscapes, thus establishing an economic hierarchy among geographical spaces not only within the colonies, but also in a worldwide context. We will use two case studies, one in Angola and one in Mozambique, to argue that technological choices in the colonies were strongly pervaded by political and economic European agendas.

Earth Sciences and History in the Work of Correia da Serra (1751-1823)

We thank Junia Furtado for the invitation to participate in this issue and the anonymous referees for comments and suggestions. The research for this article was supported by the Project UID/HIS/00286/2013 of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) which sponsors the research group Centro Interuniversitario de Historia das Ciencias e Tecnologia (CIUHCT), to which we all belong.

Visions of Science: Research at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon seen Through its Journal

This chapter focuses on the Journal of the Faculty of Sciences of Lisbon, created in 1937, taken as a key element in understanding the construction of the institutional identity of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, a republican institution founded in 1911. The Faculty of Sciences aimed at differentiating itself from its nineteenth‐century predecessor, the Polytechnic School of Lisbon, by asserting a new research ethos. Together with faculties, universities and university institutes, recently founded scientific societies began publishing scientific journals and publications devoted to the popularization of science, in this way generating a publishing movement in which journals acted as common exchange currency between national and international institutions. The Journal of the Faculty of Sciences is a paradigmatic example of this movement, and is used in this chapter as an exploratory device to show how scientific research was selected as the central piece in the construction of institutional identity. As such, the Journal unveils the new research practices carried out in the Faculty of Sciences of Lisbon and encouraged its internationalization, a goal which was perceived and practiced differently by distinct disciplines and scientists.

Going public: The first Portuguese National Engineering Meeting and the popularization of the image of the engineer as an artisan of progress (Portugal, 1931)

In this paper, we explore the use of the Portuguese generalist press as a tool to convey to the lay public the image of the engineer as the main artisan of progress and of the modern twentieth century society. In 1931, Portuguese engineers met for the first time in a national congress. Besides the obvious intention of asserting their professional identity, the first National Engineering Meeting, explicitly aimed at publicizing the work of Portuguese engineers as key players in the progress and wealth of the country, thus regaining their space as protagonists in the ‘new Portugal’. We argue that Portuguese engineers organized their first National Meeting as a way of lobbying the new Ditadura Nacional (National Dictatorship) government. They felt that they had lost power as decision-makers during the republican period (1910–1926) and they wanted to show the new leaders that they were the vital force in the building of a ‘new Portugal.’ Their strategy was to show their professional success and potential, both in a formal and academic milieu (papers presented at the conference) and in an informal techno-dazzling atmosphere (the exhibition) directed toward the general public.

Museums of Science and Technology in Lisbon

Portuguese scientific and technological museums are not usually considered to be top museums. However, we believe they provide valuable perspectives on Portuguese scientific, technological, and industrial history. From the 1980s onwards a new generation of historians of science and technology, together with researchers in museology, have been working to preserve scientific and technical instruments, machines, natural collections, archives (including drawing and photographic archives), and industrial sites. Although they face serious funding issues, these museums and collections remain important tools for establishing public awareness of the importance of Portugal’s scientific, technical, and industrial heritage. This year the Society for the History of Technology (SHOT) celebrates its 50th anniversary in Lisbon, providing SHOT members with a wonderful opportunity to come to Portugal and learn about our scientific and technological heritage through our museums.