Ancient Knowledge Organized: Pliny the Elder's Innovative Plan to Systematically Record Information in Rome
Here's a fresh take on the history of Rome's renowned polymath, Pliny the Elder:
By Tom Siegfried**Science Scribe
Behold! 2,000 years since Roman author Pliny the Elder penned the first natural encyclopedia.
Pliny, a military man, governmental official, and scholar extraordinaire, played a crucial part in the ancient Roman Empire's legacy. From the likes of aqueducts to the Latin alphabet, the empire's accolades are aplenty. Yet it wasn't known for substantial scientific advancements - that is, until Pliny stepped onto the scene.
As the original compilator of human knowledge about nature, Pliny excelled where others had faltered. He embarked on a tireless pursuit of understanding the world around him, sifting through previously published works to preserve that knowledge for posterity.
Born in 23 CE in Como, Italy, our man Pliny hailed from a family of some repute. His education in Rome prepared him for a military career, leading to service as a cavalry commander in Germany. Between his military duties, Pliny found time to author a history of Roman military activities in that region. And oh, he also had a knack for throwing javelins, evidenced by a now-lost treatise on the subject.
About 58 CE, Pliny returned to Rome, where he immersed himself in the study of law, language, history, geography, and every natural science imaginable. His insatiable curiosity drove him to work relentlessly, considering sleep a waste of time and hating to take walks because it interfered with his writing.
Pliny's magnum opus, the 37-volume Natural History, hit the shelves in 77 CE, a testament to his relentless pursuit of knowledge. Drawing from hundreds of ancient texts across all scientific fields, Pliny compiled a wealth of specific facts about nature. Its mixture of high literary quality and factual density aimed to preserve human knowledge about the natural world for future generations.
Pliny's motivation for creating Natural History was "his fear of science's past brilliance being cast aside." His approach was not philosophical but factual, aiming to "know the six European trees that produce pitch, the three types of lettuce, and the best kind of emeralds that come from Scythia."
Pliny's work, infected with a profound belief that the universe existed to serve humans, was a reflection of the Stoic philosophy popular during his time. The Stoics believed that the cosmos was infused with a powerful force called pneuma, which directed everything in the universe and determined matter's properties.
Pliny's impact on the world of knowledge was immense, influencing scientific and medical thought for centuries. His Natural History continued to serve as a practical source of information right into the 16th century. It is still used today by scholars studying ancient knowledge and has been cited in numerous scientific papers over the years.
Yet, despite its many contributions, Natural History was not without its flaws. Pliny believed everything he read from ancient authorities and incorporated many myths and superstitions into his work. He described the mythical monoceros, a "very fierce animal," with a single horn projecting from its forehead. He also discussed the legendary catoblepas, an Ethiopian animal with eyes so deadly that anyone who met its gaze would drop dead instantly. Pliny's animal book reads more like "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
Despite these faults, Pliny also expressed skepticism and occasionally rejected implausible claims. His rejection of the idea of immortality saved us from a potentially explosive situation during his 2,000th birthday celebrations.
Originally published by Knowable Magazine, updated February 2, 2023, under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license.
Insights:
- Pliny the Elder, Roman naturalist and scientist, was born in 23 CE in Novum Comum, Transpadane Gaul (modern Italy) and died in 79 CE near Mount Vesuvius.
- His most significant contribution was the encyclopedic work Natural History, an extensive compilation of knowledge on various subjects including biology, geography, mineralogy, and anthropology.
- Although Natural History contained some unsupported claims and superstitions, it served as a crucial educational resource throughout the Middle Ages and sections of it are still used today by scholars.
- Pliny's methodical approach to compiling knowledge and attention to details paved the way for the development of scientific inquiry.
- The Stoics, a popular philosophy during Pliny's time, influenced Pliny's worldview, which held that the universe existed to serve humanity.
In the realm of books, Pliny's magnum opus, Natural History, together with technological advancements such as the Latin alphabet, influenced a significant shift in the world of literature and knowledge.
Simultaneously, the inter-disciplinary nature of Pliny's work, encompassing science, technology, and entertainment, mirrors the contemporary fusion we witness in modern publications and media.
