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韦伪 纬蟻伪谓维味喂伪 蟿慰蠀 蠂蟻蠈谓慰蠀: 韦伪 蟻慰位蠈纬喂伪 魏伪喂 畏 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬委伪 蟿慰蠀 蟽蠉蠂蟻慰谓慰蠀 魏蠈蟽渭慰蠀
危蟿伪 "螕蟻伪谓维味喂伪 蟿慰蠀 蠂蟻蠈谓慰蠀" 蔚蟺喂蠂蔚喂蟻蔚委蟿伪喂 渭喂伪 蟺蟻蠋蟿畏 伪蟺蠈蟺蔚喂蟻伪 谓伪 魏伪蟿伪纬蟻伪蠁蔚委 畏 纬蔚谓喂魏萎 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 蟿畏蟼 渭苇蟿蟻畏蟽畏蟼 蟿慰蠀 蠂蟻蠈谓慰蠀 魏伪喂 畏 (胃蔚蟿喂魏萎 萎 伪蟻谓畏蟿喂魏萎) 蟽蠀渭尾慰位萎 蟿畏蟼 蟽蔚 蠈,蟿喂 伪蟺慰魏伪位慰蠉渭蔚 蟽蠉纬蠂蟻慰谓慰 蟺慰位喂蟿喂蟽渭蠈. 螝伪蟿维 蟿慰谓 螞维谓蟿蔚蟼, 畏 蔚蠁蔚蠉蟻蔚蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 渭畏蠂伪谓喂魏慰蠉 蟻慰位慰纬喂慰蠉 蟽蟿畏 渭蔚蟽伪喂蠅谓喂魏萎 螘蠀蟻蠋蟺畏 萎蟿伪谓 渭委伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 蟽畏渭伪谓蟿喂魏蠈蟿蔚蟻蔚蟼 蔚蠁蔚蠀蟻苇蟽蔚喂蟼 蟽蟿畏谓 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 蟿畏蟼 伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺蠈蟿畏蟿伪蟼 - 蠈蠂喂 蟽蟿畏谓 委未喂伪 魏伪蟿畏纬慰蟻委伪 渭蔚 蟿畏 蠁蠅蟿喂维 魏伪喂 蟿慰谓 蟿蟻慰蠂蠈, 伪位位维 蟽蠀纬魏蟻委蟽喂渭畏 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 蟿蠀蟺慰纬蟻伪蠁委伪, 蠈蟽慰谓 伪蠁慰蟻维 蟿喂蟼 蔚蟺伪谓伪蟽蟿伪蟿喂魏苇蟼 蔚蟺喂蟺蟿蠋蟽蔚喂蟼 蟺慰蠀 蔚委蠂蔚 蟽蟿喂蟼 蟺慰位喂蟿喂蟽渭喂魏苇蟼 伪尉委蔚蟼, 蟿喂蟼 蟿蔚蠂谓慰位慰纬喂魏苇蟼 伪位位伪纬苇蟼, 蟿畏谓 慰蟻纬维谓蠅蟽畏 蟿畏蟼 魏慰喂谓蠅谓喂魏萎蟼 魏伪喂 蟺慰位喂蟿喂魏萎蟼 味蠅萎蟼, 伪位位维 魏伪喂 蟿畏 未喂伪渭蠈蟻蠁蠅蟽畏 蟿畏蟼 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺喂谓畏蟼 蟺蟻慰蟽蠅蟺喂魏蠈蟿畏蟿伪蟼.
韦慰 尾喂尾位委慰 未喂伪喂蟻蔚委蟿伪喂 蟽蔚 蟿蟻委伪 渭苇蟻畏. 韦慰 蟺蟻蠋蟿慰 渭苇蟻慰蟼 胃苇蟿蔚喂 蟿慰 蔚蟻蠋蟿畏渭伪 蟺蠋蟼 魏伪喂 纬喂伪蟿委 渭喂伪 蟿蠈蟽慰 纬蠈谓喂渭畏 蔚蠁蔚蠉蟻蔚蟽畏 蔚渭蠁伪谓委蟽蟿畏魏蔚 蟽蟿畏谓 螘蠀蟻蠋蟺畏 魏伪喂 蟺伪蟻苇渭蔚喂谓蔚 蔚蠀蟻蠅蟺伪蠆魏蠈 渭慰谓慰蟺蠋位喂慰 纬喂伪 蟺蔚蟻委蟺慰蠀 蟺蔚谓蟿伪魏蠈蟽喂伪 蠂蟻蠈谓喂伪. 螤蟻蠈魏蔚喂蟿伪喂 未畏位伪未萎 纬喂伪 渭蔚位苇蟿畏 蟽蔚 蔚蟺委蟺蔚未慰 蟺慰位喂蟿喂蟽渭喂魏萎蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪蟼, 纬喂伪 蟿喂蟼 蟽蠀纬魏蟻喂蟿喂魏苇蟼 伪尉委蔚蟼 魏伪喂 蟿喂蟼 蔚蟺喂蟺蟿蠋蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟽蟿畏谓 魏慰喂谓蠅谓喂魏萎 未蟻维蟽畏. 韦慰 未蔚蠉蟿蔚蟻慰 渭苇蟻慰蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 渭喂伪 渭蔚位苇蟿畏 蟿畏蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪蟼 蟿畏蟼 蔚蟺喂蟽蟿萎渭畏蟼 魏伪喂 蟿畏蟼 蟿蔚蠂谓喂魏萎蟼. 螖蔚委蠂谓蔚喂 蟺蠋蟼 蠁蟿维蟽伪渭蔚 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟽蟿慰喂蠂蔚喂蠋未蔚喂蟼 渭畏蠂伪谓喂蟽渭慰蠉蟼 蟺慰蠀 渭蔚蟿蟻慰蠉蟽伪谓 蟿慰谓 蠂蟻蠈谓慰 魏伪蟿维 蟺蟻慰蟽苇纬纬喂蟽畏 蟽蔚 蠈蟻纬伪谓伪 蠀蠄畏位萎蟼 伪魏蟻委尾蔚喂伪蟼 魏伪喂 蟺伪蟻慰蠀蟽喂维味蔚喂 蟿畏谓 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 蟿畏蟼 尾蔚位蟿委蠅蟽畏蟼 蟿慰蠀 蟻慰位慰纬喂慰蠉 蠅蟼 慰蟻纬维谓慰蠀. 韦慰 蟿蟻委蟿慰 渭苇蟻慰蟼 -蟿慰 蔚魏蟿蔚谓苇蟽蟿蔚蟻慰- 伪蟽蠂慰位蔚委蟿伪喂 渭蔚 蟿慰蠀蟼 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺慰蠀蟼 蟺慰蠀 苇蠁蟿喂伪尉伪谓 蠁慰蟻畏蟿维 萎 蟽蟿伪胃蔚蟻维 蟻慰位蠈纬喂伪, 魏伪胃蠋蟼 魏伪喂 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰 蟺慰蠀 蟿伪 苇蠁蟿喂伪尉伪谓. 螤蟻蠈魏蔚喂蟿伪喂 纬喂伪 渭喂伪 渭蔚位苇蟿畏 慰喂魏慰谓慰渭喂魏萎蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪蟼, 蟿慰 喂蟽蟿慰蟻喂魏蠈 蟿畏蟼 蔚尉苇位喂尉畏蟼 蟿蠅谓 蟿蔚蠂谓喂魏蠋谓 魏伪蟿伪蟽魏蔚蠀萎蟼 魏伪喂 蟿蠅谓 渭蔚胃蠈未蠅谓 蟺伪蟻伪纬蠅纬萎蟼. 螌蟺蠅蟼 蟽畏渭蔚喂蠋谓蔚喂 慰 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼, 畏 苇蟻蔚蠀谓伪 蟿慰谓 慰未萎纬畏蟽蔚 蟽蔚 "伪蟺蟻蠈蟽渭蔚谓蔚蟼 伪蟿蟻伪蟺慰蠉蟼 魏伪喂 魏伪蟿蔚蠀胃蠉谓蟽蔚喂蟼: 蟽蔚 胃苇渭伪蟿伪 蠈蟺蠅蟼 畏 胃蟻畏蟽魏蔚委伪 魏伪喂 畏 位伪慰纬蟻伪蠁委伪, 蟿伪 渭伪胃畏渭伪蟿喂魏维 魏伪喂 畏 渭畏蠂伪谓喂魏萎, 畏 伪蟽蟿蟻慰谓慰渭委伪 魏伪喂 畏 谓伪蠀蟽喂蟺位慰螑伪, 伪位位维 魏伪喂 蟽蔚 蟺慰位蠉 未喂伪蠁慰蟻蔚蟿喂魏慰蠉蟼 蟿蠈蟺慰蠀蟼, 蠈蟺蠅蟼 蟽蟿畏谓 伪蠀位萎 蟿慰蠀 螠蔚纬维位慰蠀 围维谓慰蠀 魏伪喂 蟿慰蠀 伪蠀蟿慰魏蟻维蟿慰蟻伪 蟿畏蟼 螒纬委伪蟼 巍蠅渭伪蠆魏萎蟼 螒蠀蟿慰魏蟻伪蟿慰蟻委伪蟼, 蟽蟿伪 伪蟽蟿蔚蟻慰蟽魏慰蟺蔚委伪 蟿畏蟼 伪谓伪纬蔚谓谓畏蟽喂伪魏萎蟼 螘蠀蟻蠋蟺畏蟼 蟺蟻喂谓 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 伪谓伪魏维位蠀蠄畏 蟿蠅谓 蟿畏位蔚蟽魏慰蟺委蠅谓, 蟽蟿慰蠀蟼 魏蠉魏位慰蠀蟼 蟿蠅谓 位慰纬委蠅谓 蟿慰蠀 螤伪位伪喂慰蠉 螝伪胃蔚蟽蟿蠋蟿慰蟼, 蟽蟿畏 蠁慰谓喂魏萎 蟻蠈蟿伪 蟿蠅谓 纬伪位喂慰谓喂蠋谓 蟿畏蟼 螠伪谓委位伪蟼, 蟽蟿喂蟼 蔚魏魏蠅蠁伪谓蟿喂魏维 蟽喂蠅蟺畏位苇蟼 未喂伪渭维蠂蔚蟼 蟺蔚蟻委 蠂蟻慰谓慰渭苇蟿蟻畏蟽畏蟼 蟽蟿伪 蟺伪蟻伪蟿畏蟻畏蟿萎蟻喂伪 蟿慰蠀 螝喂慰蠉, 蟿畏蟼 螕蔚谓蔚蠉畏蟼 魏伪喂 蟿慰蠀 螡蔚蟽伪蟿苇位, 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 伪蟽蠁蠀魏蟿喂魏维 纬蔚渭维蟿伪 魏伪喂 伪魏伪蟿维蟽蟿伪蟿伪 蔚蟻纬伪蟽蟿萎蟻喂伪 蟿蠅谓 cabinotiers 蟿畏蟼 螕蔚谓蔚蠉畏蟼 魏伪喂 蟿慰 魏伪蟿维蟽蟿畏渭伪 蔚谓蠈蟼 蟿蔚蠂谓委蟿畏 蟽蟿慰 慰蟻蔚喂谓蠈 螡蔚蟽伪蟿苇位 渭苇蠂蟻喂 蟿伪 魏蟿委蟻喂伪 蟿蠅谓 蔚蟻纬慰蟽蟿伪蟽委蠅谓 渭蔚 蟿伪 伪渭苇蟿蟻畏蟿伪 蟺伪蟻维胃蠀蟻伪 蟽蟿慰 螣蠀蠋位胃伪渭 蟿畏蟼 螠伪蟽蟽伪蠂慰蠀蟽苇蟿蟿畏蟼 魏伪喂 蟽蟿慰 螆位蟿味喂谓 蟿慰蠀 螜位位喂谓蠈喂, 魏伪喂 蟿喂蟼 维胃位喂蔚蟼 蠁维渭蟺蟻喂魏蔚蟼 魏伪蟿伪蟽魏蔚蠀萎蟼 蟻慰位慰纬喂蠋谓 蟿畏蟼 螡慰蟿喂慰伪谓伪蟿慰位喂魏萎蟼 螒蟽委伪蟼".
韦慰 尾喂尾位委慰 未喂伪喂蟻蔚委蟿伪喂 蟽蔚 蟿蟻委伪 渭苇蟻畏. 韦慰 蟺蟻蠋蟿慰 渭苇蟻慰蟼 胃苇蟿蔚喂 蟿慰 蔚蟻蠋蟿畏渭伪 蟺蠋蟼 魏伪喂 纬喂伪蟿委 渭喂伪 蟿蠈蟽慰 纬蠈谓喂渭畏 蔚蠁蔚蠉蟻蔚蟽畏 蔚渭蠁伪谓委蟽蟿畏魏蔚 蟽蟿畏谓 螘蠀蟻蠋蟺畏 魏伪喂 蟺伪蟻苇渭蔚喂谓蔚 蔚蠀蟻蠅蟺伪蠆魏蠈 渭慰谓慰蟺蠋位喂慰 纬喂伪 蟺蔚蟻委蟺慰蠀 蟺蔚谓蟿伪魏蠈蟽喂伪 蠂蟻蠈谓喂伪. 螤蟻蠈魏蔚喂蟿伪喂 未畏位伪未萎 纬喂伪 渭蔚位苇蟿畏 蟽蔚 蔚蟺委蟺蔚未慰 蟺慰位喂蟿喂蟽渭喂魏萎蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪蟼, 纬喂伪 蟿喂蟼 蟽蠀纬魏蟻喂蟿喂魏苇蟼 伪尉委蔚蟼 魏伪喂 蟿喂蟼 蔚蟺喂蟺蟿蠋蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟽蟿畏谓 魏慰喂谓蠅谓喂魏萎 未蟻维蟽畏. 韦慰 未蔚蠉蟿蔚蟻慰 渭苇蟻慰蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 渭喂伪 渭蔚位苇蟿畏 蟿畏蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪蟼 蟿畏蟼 蔚蟺喂蟽蟿萎渭畏蟼 魏伪喂 蟿畏蟼 蟿蔚蠂谓喂魏萎蟼. 螖蔚委蠂谓蔚喂 蟺蠋蟼 蠁蟿维蟽伪渭蔚 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟽蟿慰喂蠂蔚喂蠋未蔚喂蟼 渭畏蠂伪谓喂蟽渭慰蠉蟼 蟺慰蠀 渭蔚蟿蟻慰蠉蟽伪谓 蟿慰谓 蠂蟻蠈谓慰 魏伪蟿维 蟺蟻慰蟽苇纬纬喂蟽畏 蟽蔚 蠈蟻纬伪谓伪 蠀蠄畏位萎蟼 伪魏蟻委尾蔚喂伪蟼 魏伪喂 蟺伪蟻慰蠀蟽喂维味蔚喂 蟿畏谓 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 蟿畏蟼 尾蔚位蟿委蠅蟽畏蟼 蟿慰蠀 蟻慰位慰纬喂慰蠉 蠅蟼 慰蟻纬维谓慰蠀. 韦慰 蟿蟻委蟿慰 渭苇蟻慰蟼 -蟿慰 蔚魏蟿蔚谓苇蟽蟿蔚蟻慰- 伪蟽蠂慰位蔚委蟿伪喂 渭蔚 蟿慰蠀蟼 伪谓胃蟻蠋蟺慰蠀蟼 蟺慰蠀 苇蠁蟿喂伪尉伪谓 蠁慰蟻畏蟿维 萎 蟽蟿伪胃蔚蟻维 蟻慰位蠈纬喂伪, 魏伪胃蠋蟼 魏伪喂 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰 蟺慰蠀 蟿伪 苇蠁蟿喂伪尉伪谓. 螤蟻蠈魏蔚喂蟿伪喂 纬喂伪 渭喂伪 渭蔚位苇蟿畏 慰喂魏慰谓慰渭喂魏萎蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪蟼, 蟿慰 喂蟽蟿慰蟻喂魏蠈 蟿畏蟼 蔚尉苇位喂尉畏蟼 蟿蠅谓 蟿蔚蠂谓喂魏蠋谓 魏伪蟿伪蟽魏蔚蠀萎蟼 魏伪喂 蟿蠅谓 渭蔚胃蠈未蠅谓 蟺伪蟻伪纬蠅纬萎蟼. 螌蟺蠅蟼 蟽畏渭蔚喂蠋谓蔚喂 慰 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁苇伪蟼, 畏 苇蟻蔚蠀谓伪 蟿慰谓 慰未萎纬畏蟽蔚 蟽蔚 "伪蟺蟻蠈蟽渭蔚谓蔚蟼 伪蟿蟻伪蟺慰蠉蟼 魏伪喂 魏伪蟿蔚蠀胃蠉谓蟽蔚喂蟼: 蟽蔚 胃苇渭伪蟿伪 蠈蟺蠅蟼 畏 胃蟻畏蟽魏蔚委伪 魏伪喂 畏 位伪慰纬蟻伪蠁委伪, 蟿伪 渭伪胃畏渭伪蟿喂魏维 魏伪喂 畏 渭畏蠂伪谓喂魏萎, 畏 伪蟽蟿蟻慰谓慰渭委伪 魏伪喂 畏 谓伪蠀蟽喂蟺位慰螑伪, 伪位位维 魏伪喂 蟽蔚 蟺慰位蠉 未喂伪蠁慰蟻蔚蟿喂魏慰蠉蟼 蟿蠈蟺慰蠀蟼, 蠈蟺蠅蟼 蟽蟿畏谓 伪蠀位萎 蟿慰蠀 螠蔚纬维位慰蠀 围维谓慰蠀 魏伪喂 蟿慰蠀 伪蠀蟿慰魏蟻维蟿慰蟻伪 蟿畏蟼 螒纬委伪蟼 巍蠅渭伪蠆魏萎蟼 螒蠀蟿慰魏蟻伪蟿慰蟻委伪蟼, 蟽蟿伪 伪蟽蟿蔚蟻慰蟽魏慰蟺蔚委伪 蟿畏蟼 伪谓伪纬蔚谓谓畏蟽喂伪魏萎蟼 螘蠀蟻蠋蟺畏蟼 蟺蟻喂谓 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 伪谓伪魏维位蠀蠄畏 蟿蠅谓 蟿畏位蔚蟽魏慰蟺委蠅谓, 蟽蟿慰蠀蟼 魏蠉魏位慰蠀蟼 蟿蠅谓 位慰纬委蠅谓 蟿慰蠀 螤伪位伪喂慰蠉 螝伪胃蔚蟽蟿蠋蟿慰蟼, 蟽蟿畏 蠁慰谓喂魏萎 蟻蠈蟿伪 蟿蠅谓 纬伪位喂慰谓喂蠋谓 蟿畏蟼 螠伪谓委位伪蟼, 蟽蟿喂蟼 蔚魏魏蠅蠁伪谓蟿喂魏维 蟽喂蠅蟺畏位苇蟼 未喂伪渭维蠂蔚蟼 蟺蔚蟻委 蠂蟻慰谓慰渭苇蟿蟻畏蟽畏蟼 蟽蟿伪 蟺伪蟻伪蟿畏蟻畏蟿萎蟻喂伪 蟿慰蠀 螝喂慰蠉, 蟿畏蟼 螕蔚谓蔚蠉畏蟼 魏伪喂 蟿慰蠀 螡蔚蟽伪蟿苇位, 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 伪蟽蠁蠀魏蟿喂魏维 纬蔚渭维蟿伪 魏伪喂 伪魏伪蟿维蟽蟿伪蟿伪 蔚蟻纬伪蟽蟿萎蟻喂伪 蟿蠅谓 cabinotiers 蟿畏蟼 螕蔚谓蔚蠉畏蟼 魏伪喂 蟿慰 魏伪蟿维蟽蟿畏渭伪 蔚谓蠈蟼 蟿蔚蠂谓委蟿畏 蟽蟿慰 慰蟻蔚喂谓蠈 螡蔚蟽伪蟿苇位 渭苇蠂蟻喂 蟿伪 魏蟿委蟻喂伪 蟿蠅谓 蔚蟻纬慰蟽蟿伪蟽委蠅谓 渭蔚 蟿伪 伪渭苇蟿蟻畏蟿伪 蟺伪蟻维胃蠀蟻伪 蟽蟿慰 螣蠀蠋位胃伪渭 蟿畏蟼 螠伪蟽蟽伪蠂慰蠀蟽苇蟿蟿畏蟼 魏伪喂 蟽蟿慰 螆位蟿味喂谓 蟿慰蠀 螜位位喂谓蠈喂, 魏伪喂 蟿喂蟼 维胃位喂蔚蟼 蠁维渭蟺蟻喂魏蔚蟼 魏伪蟿伪蟽魏蔚蠀萎蟼 蟻慰位慰纬喂蠋谓 蟿畏蟼 螡慰蟿喂慰伪谓伪蟿慰位喂魏萎蟼 螒蟽委伪蟼".
662 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1983
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About the author
David S. Landes
20听books98听followersDavid S. Landes was a professor emeritus of economics at Harvard University and retired professor of history at George Washington University. He is the author of Revolution in Time, The Unbound Prometheus, The Wealth and Poverty of Nations, and Dynasties. Such works have received both praise for detailed retelling of economic history, as well as scorn on charges of blatant Eurocentrism, a charge he embraces explicitly, arguing that an explanation for an economic miracle that happened originally only in Europe must of necessity be a Eurocentric analysis.
Landes earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1953 and an A.B. from City College of New York in 1942.
-Wikipedia
Landes earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1953 and an A.B. from City College of New York in 1942.
-Wikipedia
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August 27, 2007
I'm a lawyer- my time is billable in increments of one tenth of an hour. At larger law firms (I don't work for a firm) lawyers are expected to BILL- BILL- in excess of 2100 hundred hours a year. To "bill" an hour basically means that you not only work the hour, but record the manner in which you spent it. Nowadays, we have computer programs to facilitate this task- but the act of keeping records of how you spend your time- it is deeply unatural, and my expereience as a lawyer has caused me to have a minor interest in the relationship between time and the development of modernity.
How important was the invention of the mechanical clock in the middle ages? Very, for you see... it was the first mechanical clock that gave us... the beat.
"The achievment of the genius who built the first mechanical clock was not that he used an escapment as that he had made use oscillatory motion to divide time into countable beats."
Do you get it? IT'S THE BEAT.
Anyway, I found the actual organization to be overly schematic. In Landes' words, "It is a triptych: a study in cultural history; in the history of science and technology, and in social and economic history. I now offer you one sentence summaries of this book and those subjects, so that you will not have to read a 360 page book.
The first segment of the book answers the question "Why did Europe invent the mechanical clock, as supposed to the Chinese." The Chinese (and the Islamic) world were using sophisticated water driven clocks while Europe was being sacked by the Vikings. However, they never moved on to the mechanical clock- which is superior in design- mostly because um... water clocks are big and immovable.
The second segement of the book looks at the technological/scientific improvements that brough the clock into the shape we know and love today. So we're talking fifty pages on the builiding of tower clocks in the early middle ages, the development of portable clocks in the later middle ages, the development of the marine chronograph- a device that allowed sailors to navigate longitutde accurately without reference to the night sky. The chapters on the marine chronograph was as boring a text as I've read all year.
The final segment briefs the development of the watch industry- as in- the post industrial revolution watch industry. Clockmakers are interesting in that they were making technologically sophisticated devices long before most Europeans ever used a machine, but their industry- because of its early development- retained many of the hallmarks of pre-industrial commerce long after "the handwriting" was on the wall. Thus, the English were supplanted by the Swiss in the 18th and 19th century, the Swiss were challenged by the Americans, both were surpassed by the Japanese. I actually found the information about the Swiss watch making industry to be interesting- a bunch of poor mountain folk taught themselves how to be the best watch makers in the world AND how to sell those watches "world" wide in the course of a generation.
The chapters on the Swiss watchmakers almost makes me want to go to Geneva and the Jura region- but not quite.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. Unless, of course, you are interested in the history of clocks and clockmaking- if you are that- I'll lend you my copy.
How important was the invention of the mechanical clock in the middle ages? Very, for you see... it was the first mechanical clock that gave us... the beat.
"The achievment of the genius who built the first mechanical clock was not that he used an escapment as that he had made use oscillatory motion to divide time into countable beats."
Do you get it? IT'S THE BEAT.
Anyway, I found the actual organization to be overly schematic. In Landes' words, "It is a triptych: a study in cultural history; in the history of science and technology, and in social and economic history. I now offer you one sentence summaries of this book and those subjects, so that you will not have to read a 360 page book.
The first segment of the book answers the question "Why did Europe invent the mechanical clock, as supposed to the Chinese." The Chinese (and the Islamic) world were using sophisticated water driven clocks while Europe was being sacked by the Vikings. However, they never moved on to the mechanical clock- which is superior in design- mostly because um... water clocks are big and immovable.
The second segement of the book looks at the technological/scientific improvements that brough the clock into the shape we know and love today. So we're talking fifty pages on the builiding of tower clocks in the early middle ages, the development of portable clocks in the later middle ages, the development of the marine chronograph- a device that allowed sailors to navigate longitutde accurately without reference to the night sky. The chapters on the marine chronograph was as boring a text as I've read all year.
The final segment briefs the development of the watch industry- as in- the post industrial revolution watch industry. Clockmakers are interesting in that they were making technologically sophisticated devices long before most Europeans ever used a machine, but their industry- because of its early development- retained many of the hallmarks of pre-industrial commerce long after "the handwriting" was on the wall. Thus, the English were supplanted by the Swiss in the 18th and 19th century, the Swiss were challenged by the Americans, both were surpassed by the Japanese. I actually found the information about the Swiss watch making industry to be interesting- a bunch of poor mountain folk taught themselves how to be the best watch makers in the world AND how to sell those watches "world" wide in the course of a generation.
The chapters on the Swiss watchmakers almost makes me want to go to Geneva and the Jura region- but not quite.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. Unless, of course, you are interested in the history of clocks and clockmaking- if you are that- I'll lend you my copy.
March 20, 2015
This book is a history of horology, time-keeping, from the middle ages in both China and Europe until the invention and refinement of quartz watches in the late sixties and seventies. The author was a Harvard historian and economist and his book focuses substantially on the techniques of design, manufacture and marketing of timepieces--not without substantial appreciation of the aesthetic aspects of early clocks and watches. Personally, I found some of the technical material--much of it confined to an appendix--to be a bit much, but other readers might want the book for precisely such attention to detail.
June 11, 2018
At a time (14th century) when they were far behind Islam and East Asia in technology, Western Europeans started making mechanical clocks that would ultimately solve the problem of longitude, measure the heavens and speed of light, and put a watch on every wrist in the world. Along with glass and city councils, mechanical timekeeping was one of the distinguishing features of Western culture and a key to its later scientific dominance. A first class and outstanding book, perhaps the definitive work.
November 1, 2024
3.5 stars - I admire the ambition Landes displays in attempting a cultural, industrial, and social/economic history of timekeeping in one relatively svelte volume, but am unconvinced that he pulled off the feat. His cultural history of timekeeping is too sweeping and prone to broad generalizations. The industrial history is ferociously detailed, which detail I actually sought in this book, but poorly illustrated, with the diagrams portraying the various movements consigned to an appendix and disconnected from the text. The social/economic history is the strongest section (as one would perhaps expect from an economic historian), especially the closing pages that serve as a warm-hearted elegy for the demise of mechanical clockwork as a productive (rather than luxury) market force.
June 2, 2015
An excellent history of time and timekeeping. Actual text is only 360 pages - the rest is full of illustrations, appendices, and very detailed source notes for each chapter. This was the 1982 edition, so I'd be interested in reading the updated edition for more info on the development of the quartz revolution on the watch market.
Would have liked more commentary on the individual houses of watchmakers - Longines, Cartier, Rolex, AP, Omega, Vacheron Constantine, Patek, etc.
Would have liked more commentary on the individual houses of watchmakers - Longines, Cartier, Rolex, AP, Omega, Vacheron Constantine, Patek, etc.
January 29, 2008
I just yesterday finished reading Revolution in Time by David S. Landes. It falls flat as a technical manual for clocks and watches, but the early chapters give a suitable overview of people鈥檚 relation to time and timepieces. The authors unit of analysis gets progressively narrower as his subject approaches the present. The details he does give in later chapters don鈥檛 give an analogous picture of people鈥檚 relation to time and timepieces and their manufacture in the early 80s when the book was published...
The book mentions John Harrison, an early inventor of a clock accurate enough to be used aboard ship to computer longitude. Harrison was a man of humble beginnings and meager resources who taught himself horology and designed and build a number of innovative clocks. His earliest models were composed mostly of wood, which was unusual for the time but very were accurate . Perhaps I'll see if his bio is in print in the U.K. I'd love to read a biography of John Harrison but it appears none is currently in print in the U.S. There's a recent movie/book tie in but a more exhaustive biography of Harrison from 1920 is priced well out of my range. I mistakenly believed that Harrison Birtwistle's musical composition, titled "Harrison's Clocks." referred to the composer but now I think rather refers to John Harrison.
The other person this book has me thinking about, in reference to artisanship and craft, is William Morris. I've got 3 or 4 books by or about him that I may read in rapid succession once I am through with this book. I guess I am trying to get a picture of skilled labor and artisanship. These days, many folks who historically worked, for example, on jewelry or timepieces are finding their jobs deskilled and themselves outsourced or replaced by underwaged immigrant workers. The antagonisms in terms of immediate material interest and in terms of contradictions within the class should be obvious. These people still possess the skills and in many cases the tools of repair and manufacture. Many are working from a bench in their home after work hours. Hairdressers working out of their kitchen would be a similar example. This is bears resemblance to my own experience selling/repairing books. Libraries are shortening their hours and shrinking their collections and bookstores with selections more heterogeneous than Barnes & Noble are being forced out of business or onto the web. People with skills and knowledge relevant to books are forced to ply their craft in isolation. Buying up books at a discount, sprucing them up a bit and then selling them online can bring in a few extra bucks. There is something to be said for not having to answer to management and also seeing monetary returns on the use of skills and knowledge that an employer might discourage or fail to recognize. The downside is that the monetary return on an hour of this work is way below what someone would be paid if they were conventionally employed and that such folks are so atomized as workers that no traditional method of workplace organizing is appropriate.
Similarly it's recently become easier and more popular for folks to engage in "hardware hacking" and "circuit bending" of computers and other electronics. There is in fact a magazine published by O'Reilly dedicated almost exclusively to these "makers." It remains to be seen where artisanship like this will lead. It is easy to imagine, though that folks with enough money would patronize a custom computer or electronics boutique. Web based versions of such boutiques already exist.
So I am probably going to dust off old William Morris in the next month or so. In a direct methodological sense I don't think I will take much away from Morris' writing. I've read a bit of his stuff and he is kind of weak on imperialism and didn't strike me as the best organizer. But I think the books by/about him will give me some context, however quaint, to inform an understanding the human side of this kind of microcapitalist homework.
The book mentions John Harrison, an early inventor of a clock accurate enough to be used aboard ship to computer longitude. Harrison was a man of humble beginnings and meager resources who taught himself horology and designed and build a number of innovative clocks. His earliest models were composed mostly of wood, which was unusual for the time but very were accurate . Perhaps I'll see if his bio is in print in the U.K. I'd love to read a biography of John Harrison but it appears none is currently in print in the U.S. There's a recent movie/book tie in but a more exhaustive biography of Harrison from 1920 is priced well out of my range. I mistakenly believed that Harrison Birtwistle's musical composition, titled "Harrison's Clocks." referred to the composer but now I think rather refers to John Harrison.
The other person this book has me thinking about, in reference to artisanship and craft, is William Morris. I've got 3 or 4 books by or about him that I may read in rapid succession once I am through with this book. I guess I am trying to get a picture of skilled labor and artisanship. These days, many folks who historically worked, for example, on jewelry or timepieces are finding their jobs deskilled and themselves outsourced or replaced by underwaged immigrant workers. The antagonisms in terms of immediate material interest and in terms of contradictions within the class should be obvious. These people still possess the skills and in many cases the tools of repair and manufacture. Many are working from a bench in their home after work hours. Hairdressers working out of their kitchen would be a similar example. This is bears resemblance to my own experience selling/repairing books. Libraries are shortening their hours and shrinking their collections and bookstores with selections more heterogeneous than Barnes & Noble are being forced out of business or onto the web. People with skills and knowledge relevant to books are forced to ply their craft in isolation. Buying up books at a discount, sprucing them up a bit and then selling them online can bring in a few extra bucks. There is something to be said for not having to answer to management and also seeing monetary returns on the use of skills and knowledge that an employer might discourage or fail to recognize. The downside is that the monetary return on an hour of this work is way below what someone would be paid if they were conventionally employed and that such folks are so atomized as workers that no traditional method of workplace organizing is appropriate.
Similarly it's recently become easier and more popular for folks to engage in "hardware hacking" and "circuit bending" of computers and other electronics. There is in fact a magazine published by O'Reilly dedicated almost exclusively to these "makers." It remains to be seen where artisanship like this will lead. It is easy to imagine, though that folks with enough money would patronize a custom computer or electronics boutique. Web based versions of such boutiques already exist.
So I am probably going to dust off old William Morris in the next month or so. In a direct methodological sense I don't think I will take much away from Morris' writing. I've read a bit of his stuff and he is kind of weak on imperialism and didn't strike me as the best organizer. But I think the books by/about him will give me some context, however quaint, to inform an understanding the human side of this kind of microcapitalist homework.
February 19, 2011
Very well written (somewhat melodramatic) account of watches, clocks and how/why ways of making them developed. The author pursues his subject with passion across Europe to America and enthuses over each of several developments that improve the accuracy of time-keeping devices. This is a book for the enthusiast of time-keeping devices of for some one interested in the history of technology of which this is a lively and brilliant example.
September 26, 2023
I think this would be interesting only if you are really, really into clocks. I liked the parts where he focused on the historical/political conditions and how they drove innovation. But the parts where the actual mechanics of certain clocks was literally so boring to me and I couldn't bring myself to care at all.
September 11, 2014
This was a tough one, in that it is clearly written for people who know something about clocks. No, not just something, a lot. It would therefore have been much more accessible if it had contained a chapter on remedial clock functioning so the casual reader would know what an escapement or dentent is. But I didn't read it to understand how clocks functioned in the 1600s, I read it because I was curious about the evolution of the concept of time and the measurement of it, as well as to follow the creativity cycle of people who created remarkably precise instruments with what now seem like remarkably imprecise tools and technology. And from that standpoint the book delivered, albeit in between technical drawings and discussions of counterweights and the like. It also proved to be a very interesting look into the economics of an industry particularly prone to technological advance and susceptible to the significant effects of the cost of labor. Thus it gives an interesting look at the evolution clock and watch making as it is a completely local industry for many years (mainly clock towers), then with the ability to make smaller clocks becomes a regional industry with strong centers in England, France, Germany and Italy, then as labor costs became a significant factor you see the locus of the industry slowly move to Switzerland, leaving the former centers to try to hold on to what they had because they just couldn't innovate. Then the US becomes an industrial force and supplants the Swiss. And eventually quartz technology makes a watch a completely different thing than it had been previously, and the Japanese take over. Of course, that's where the book ends (1982 or so). It's probably better that it did, because if it had been written today the last chapter ("Why No One Wears Watches Anymore") would be rather depressing after all that. But there's always the Apple Watch . . .
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the fact that this book contains one of my favorite sentences in anything I have ever read. I gave the book to a friend of mine before I wrote this sentence down, unfortunately, but it reads something like this: "It was in 1857 that Jean Michelle gave what may be the most significant speech in horological history. . . . " I can't remember what the speech was about (I think it was a report to the Swiss watch guild about American progress in industrial manufacturing), but I love reading something that suggests that the author has actually reviewed many speeches over the course of horological history and has determined that this one may be the most significant one. That's some horological dedication right there.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the fact that this book contains one of my favorite sentences in anything I have ever read. I gave the book to a friend of mine before I wrote this sentence down, unfortunately, but it reads something like this: "It was in 1857 that Jean Michelle gave what may be the most significant speech in horological history. . . . " I can't remember what the speech was about (I think it was a report to the Swiss watch guild about American progress in industrial manufacturing), but I love reading something that suggests that the author has actually reviewed many speeches over the course of horological history and has determined that this one may be the most significant one. That's some horological dedication right there.
March 21, 2018
This is a very interesting and detailed historical description of the emergence and evolution of the clock and watch-making industries. Unfortunately, it was published in 1983, and it concludes with the quartz crystal disruption... so much has happened to time-keeping in the past 25 years! After reading this, I am left wondering why Clayton Christensen didn't include this as a case study in the development of disruption innovation theory. This would be a great masters thesis analysis topic... if anyone picks this up, please let me know! :-D
P.S. As I promised myself long ago, this was the first book I read after submitting my PhD thesis! ;-D
P.S. As I promised myself long ago, this was the first book I read after submitting my PhD thesis! ;-D
January 20, 2015
I found this book most interesting when Landes was talking about the social history of precision of time, and actually somewhat tedious when dealing with the history of watchmaking and clockmaking. An enthusiast for those subjects might appreciate them more. (Perhaps that's really the target audience here. It was shelved with other books on clocks at the local library.)
I hate to mark an author down for the book that he *didn't* write, so I'll still give this a solid 4 stars; Landes is a throwback, certainly, in his writing style, but he's very readable and a really skilled historian. With that said, I will say that I wish that he had done more along the lines of E.P. Thompson's "Time, Work Discipline, and Industrial Capitalism," rather than spending so much time on clockmaking. He hints at the social changes wrought by the introduction of time, but he never really digs into it as deeply as I would have wanted.
Still, thinking about time itself--and how much it affects our lives--is another one of those "the past is a foreign country" moments. A world without precise time is a very different one indeed.
I hate to mark an author down for the book that he *didn't* write, so I'll still give this a solid 4 stars; Landes is a throwback, certainly, in his writing style, but he's very readable and a really skilled historian. With that said, I will say that I wish that he had done more along the lines of E.P. Thompson's "Time, Work Discipline, and Industrial Capitalism," rather than spending so much time on clockmaking. He hints at the social changes wrought by the introduction of time, but he never really digs into it as deeply as I would have wanted.
Still, thinking about time itself--and how much it affects our lives--is another one of those "the past is a foreign country" moments. A world without precise time is a very different one indeed.
November 8, 2024
Viaggio nel tempo, o meglio, nella misurazione del tempo. Affascinante storia sociale, economica, industriale e tecnica dell'orologio, quell'aggeggio a cui ormai siamo talmente assuefatti da non renderci conto di quanto abbia cambiato la vita dell'uomo.
Peccato solo che il libro sia del 1982, e quindi non parli dell'esplosione degli Swatch, degli orologi radiocontrollati e in generale, delle novit脿 degli ultimi vent'anni.
(In inglese ne esiste un'edizione aggiornata al 2000 che credo mi procurer貌 quanto prima.)
Peccato solo che il libro sia del 1982, e quindi non parli dell'esplosione degli Swatch, degli orologi radiocontrollati e in generale, delle novit脿 degli ultimi vent'anni.
(In inglese ne esiste un'edizione aggiornata al 2000 che credo mi procurer貌 quanto prima.)
April 1, 2017
Explica a historia do crecemento econ贸mico a ra铆z da revoluci贸n que supuxo o reloxo mec谩nico.
O cap铆tulo 9 茅 fascinante. Conta como un simple carpinteiro de Hull, John Harrison, autodidacta e lector de libros cient铆ficos, inventou un reloxo que pod铆a medir a lonxitude no mar. A s煤a soluci贸n non foi exacta, pero logrou demostrar que era un problema resoluble. O seu traballo nunca foi adecuadamente recompensado pola Academia das Ciencias. Hab铆a rivalidade con outro inventor mellor posicionado socialmente. O reloxo est谩 exposto en Londres no M煤seo de Greenwich.
O cap铆tulo 9 茅 fascinante. Conta como un simple carpinteiro de Hull, John Harrison, autodidacta e lector de libros cient铆ficos, inventou un reloxo que pod铆a medir a lonxitude no mar. A s煤a soluci贸n non foi exacta, pero logrou demostrar que era un problema resoluble. O seu traballo nunca foi adecuadamente recompensado pola Academia das Ciencias. Hab铆a rivalidade con outro inventor mellor posicionado socialmente. O reloxo est谩 exposto en Londres no M煤seo de Greenwich.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2012
One of the definitive works on the history of time keeping. It is full of useful detail, yet also provides a big picture of the developments of horology. The one danger of the book is that it can leave a false impression of a linear development of time technology leading inevitably to clocks. This is because the book does not really explore time reckoning tools that did not lead to clocks.
April 19, 2012
The first chapters give a masterful view of how mankind's relationship to and conception of TIME evolved and suddenly changed with the development of clocks.
The remainder of the book is a technical tour-de-force on clockmaking.
The remainder of the book is a technical tour-de-force on clockmaking.
Currently reading
February 28, 2009"my time is my time. are you sleeping brother? A magnificent dead end."
February 8, 2018
Well written. Historical and sociological dicsussion interesting. Got bored with clock technology I didn't understand very well and which greatly exceeded my interest. My fault. Not the author's.
April 22, 2020
This book is basically the history of clock/watch making. I got the book hoping to understand how clocks have changed out understanding of time - how the constant measurement of minutes and seconds has shaped how we see the world. While the book occasionally touches on this, it is not a main focus of the author. You will learn how the discovery of the New World pushed European scientists and inventors to seek better time keeping devices - and devices that could work at sea. Sailors had figured out how to determine latitude by observing the stars and horizon. But calculating longitude proved far more difficult. Without an ability to calculate longitude ships could not determine how close to the shores on either side of the Atlantic they were. TransAtlantic shipping needed a solution and clocks helped with this. Clocks became important to military operations and to the scheduling of trains. These are some of the main factors determining the rise of the clock/watch as an essential mechanical device.
January 13, 2024
This's the history of clockmaking, from the earliest medieval mechanical clocks to the rise of piezoelectric solid-state watches. I'd heard about the intricate work involved in clockmaking, and the new challenges of watches relative to standup clocks, but I was still surprised by the degree of challenge in both of them. The history of the clock industries in Switzerland, England, and America were also new to me.
The flaw in this book, as a book, is that the first half of it doesn't have any continuing characters or storyline aside from the simple growth of mechanical technology. In part, that's because of a lack of records around early clockmaking. But still, I enjoyed reading the second half much more than the first.
The flaw in this book, as a book, is that the first half of it doesn't have any continuing characters or storyline aside from the simple growth of mechanical technology. In part, that's because of a lack of records around early clockmaking. But still, I enjoyed reading the second half much more than the first.
Read
November 29, 2024A very dense book for the beginner horologist. I jumped around and focused on one chapter at a time and did not read front to back. Taking on the chapters that appealed the most to my area of interest. As I learned, gained more context I found other chapters that were not of interest now of greater interest. Very detailed. More than I can retain on first read and can go back an re-read chapters.
October 11, 2018
Excelente libro. Para cualquier aficionado a la Horolog铆a es una lectura indispensable. Que bien por el autor al recabar toda esa informaci贸n sobre la historia de los relojes, la cual nos ha marcado hasta nuestros d铆as
January 27, 2020
This book is a history of timepieces. It's extremely well documented and really quite fascinating. Why do we need watches? What is the cultural significance? Why do we strive for more and more accuracy? I love the questions it raises and the answers it gives. It makes you think on many levels.
May 26, 2020
Semplicemente stupendo!
Mi vergogno un p貌 di dire che scopro David Landes con questo libro, ma 猫 stata una sorpresa meravigliosa!
Credo sia la prima volta in vita mia in cui anche le note sono veramente interessanti! Un libro nel libro.
Mi vergogno un p貌 di dire che scopro David Landes con questo libro, ma 猫 stata una sorpresa meravigliosa!
Credo sia la prima volta in vita mia in cui anche le note sono veramente interessanti! Un libro nel libro.
April 29, 2021
Almost 40 years since publication...this is a very interesting history of watches, clocks and ancient methods of tracking time. Certainly dated and does not cover the rise in cellphone usage, the internet, wi-fi, smart watches, and connectivity.
October 31, 2022
I do love this book. It is entertaining, well written, with tons of historical facts about horology, clocks and watches. Maybe part of its information is out of date, but the book in itself is a gem.听
January 30, 2023
N茫o tenho uma paix茫o particular por rel贸gios. Ainda assim, apanhei-me completamente envolvido por este livro, que nos leva da escala global e das quest玫es geopol铆ticas 脿s entranhas dos mais pequenos dos rel贸gios.
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