Research Catalog

Title

On discovery / Polydore Vergil ; edited and translated by Brian P. Copenhaver.

Author

Vergil, Polydore, 1470?-1555.

Publication

Cambridge, Mass. : London : Harvard University Press, 2002.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Copenhaver, Brian P.

Description

xxx, 721 p.; 21 cm.

Summary

"The Italian humanist Polydore Vergil (1470-1555) was born in Urbino but spent most of his life in early Tudor England. His most popular work, On Discovery (De inventoribus rerum, 1499), was the first comprehensive account of discoveries and inventions written since antiquity. Thirty Latin editions of this work were published in Polydore's lifetime, and by the eighteenth century more than a hundred editions had appeared in eight languages, including Russian. On Discovery became a key reference for anyone who wanted to know about "firsts" in theology, philosophy, science, technology, literature, language, law, material culture, and other fields. Polydore took his information from dozens of Greek, Roman, biblical, and Patristic authorities. His main point was to show that many Greek and Roman claims for discovery were false and that ancient Jews or other Asian peoples had priority. This is the first English translation of a critical edition based on the Latin texts published in Polydore Vergil's lifetime." -- from book jacket.

Series Statement

The I Tatti Renaissance library ; 6

Uniform Title

• De rerum inventoribus. English & Latin
• I Tatti Renaissance library ; 6.

Alternative Title

De rerum inventoribus.

Subjects

• Learning and scholarship > Early works to 1800
• Discoveries in science > Early works to 1800
• Inventions > Early works to 1800
• Civilization > Early works to 1800

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 684-685) and index.

Language (note)

• Parallel Latin text and English translation.

Contents

Introduction -- Letter to Lodovico Odassio ; First letter to Gian Matteo Vergil ; Second letter to Gian Matteo Vergil ; On Polydore / Simon Grynaeus -- On discovery -- Book I ; Book II ; Book III -- Note on chronology ; Note on the text ; Notes to the text ; Notes to the translation ; Bibliography ; Index.

Call Number

PA8161

ISBN

• 0674007891
• 9780674007895

LCCN

2002513047

OCLC

82788671

Author

Vergil, Polydore, 1470?-1555.

Title

On discovery / Polydore Vergil ; edited and translated by Brian P. Copenhaver.

Imprint

Cambridge, Mass. : London : Harvard University Press, 2002.

Series

The I Tatti Renaissance library ; 6

I Tatti Renaissance library ; 6.

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (p. 684-685) and index.

Language

Parallel Latin text and English translation.

Added Author

Copenhaver, Brian P., Ed. & Trans.

Other Form:

Online version: Vergil, Polydore, 1470?-1555. De rerum inventoribus. English & Latin. On discovery. Cambridge, Mass. : London : Harvard University Press, 2002 (OCoLC)606823962

Research Call Number

*R-RMRR PA8161 .T3 ITRL 6