History of science courses
In ancient societies, sacred astronomy and alchemy were the sciences of their day, showcasing power, knowledge and ambition. Later, societies saw the emergence of metallurgy, herbal medicine and combat engineering.
Today, we speak of much broader fields of science, technology and medicine, linking the universe to the smallest parts of our bodies.
Shared across the ages, are the links between knowledge, application and society.
In our history of science courses, you will therefore explore and contextualise knowledge, discoveries, innovations across different epochs and regions and unpack the implications for society or humanity more broadly.
Browse our history of science courses below and enrol today.
4 courses available
Bodysnatching & Anatomy in London, c.1780-c.1845Join Sarah Wise to explore the clandestine world of 'resurrection men,' the bodysnatchers who supplied human bodies to anatomy schools and the impact of the 1832 Anatomy Act on the trade.Keeley Street
Sat 31 Oct 2026Sarah WiseFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00- Sanity & Insanity: A brief history of mental health and its treatments before the 19th century
We will look at the way mental health was understood and treated in the medieval period, then under the Tudors & Stuarts, and during the long eighteenth century, up to 1815. Tutor: Dr. Kathleen Chater.
Keeley Street
Sat 28 Nov 2026Kathleen ChaterFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - An introduction to the history of 19th & early 20th century mental health
We will explore the various diagnoses and altered states of consciousness that 19th and early 20th century doctors devised. In addition, we will take a look at the administration of ‘lunacy’ law, with particular reference to the private and public asylums in and around the London area.
Keeley Street
Sat 6 Feb 2027Sarah WiseFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - The Disease of the Soul: Leprosy in the Middle Ages
We explore medieval attitudes towards the disease and the medical care available to sufferers. We also look at how the leper was depicted in art and literature before 1500 CE.
Keeley Street
Sat 8 May 2027Vanessa KingFull fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00
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