Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Part of: Synthesis digital library of engineering and computer science.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 169-191) and index.

1. Introduction -- 1.1. The multicultural science -- 1.2. The ancient Hindu science -- 1.3. About the book

2. The building blocks of science -- 2.1. Geography -- 2.2. The power of questioning : śāstrārtha (debate) to acquire knowledge -- 2.3. Respect for knowledge : the role of a guru -- 2.4. Smṛti (memory), an answer to book burning -- 2.5. Yoga and meditation for self-improvement

3. The Hindu mathematics -- 3.1. The Hindu numerals -- 3.2. From śūnyatā and neti-neti to zero and infinity (ananta) -- 3.3. The binary number system -- 3.4. The Fibonacci sequence -- 3.5. The square-root operation -- 3.6. Algebra -- 3.7. Geometry -- 3.8. The Pythagorean theorem -- 3.9. Trigonometry : from jyā to sine -- 3.10. Diffusion of Hindu mathematics to other cultures

4. Astronomy -- 4.1. Heliocentric solar system -- 4.2. Hindu calendar -- 4.3. Hindu cosmology -- 4.4. Diffusion of Hindu astronomy

5. Physics -- 5.1. Space (ākāśa) -- 5.2. Time -- 5.3. Matter and mass -- 5.4. Atom (paramāṇu) -- 5.5. Gravitation and ocean tides

6. Chemistry -- 6.1. Mining and metallurgy -- 6.2. Wootz or Damascus steel -- 6.3. Fermentation

7. Biology -- 7.1. Sacred rivers and mountains : ecological perspectives -- 7.2. Sacred tulsī and sacred cow -- 7.3. Life in plants : similarities with humans

8. Medicine -- 8.1. Doctors, nurses, pharmacies, and hospitals -- 8.2. Ayurveda -- 8.3. Surgery -- 8.4. Hindu medicine in other world cultures

9. The global impact -- 9.1. Impacts during the ancient and medieval periods -- 9.2. Impacts during the modern period -- A. Timeline of the Hindu manuscripts.

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To understand modern science as a coherent story, it is essential to recognize the accomplishments of the ancient Hindus. They invented our base-ten number system and zero that are now used globally, carefully mapped the sky and assigned motion to the Earth in their astronomy, developed a sophisticated system of medicine with its mind-body approach known as Ayurveda, mastered metallurgical methods of extraction and purification of metals, including the so-called Damascus blade and the Iron Pillar of New Delhi, and developed the science of self-improvement that is popularly known as yoga. Their scientific contributions made impact on noted scholars globally: Aristotle, Megasthenes, and Apollonius of Tyana among the Greeks; Al-Birūnī, Al-Khwārizmī, Ibn Labbān, and Al-Uqlīdisī, Al-Jāḥiz among the Islamic scholars; Fa-Hien, Hiuen Tsang, and I-tsing among the Chinese; and Leonardo Fibbonacci, Pope Sylvester II, Roger Bacon, Voltaire and Copernicus from Europe. In the modern era, thinkers and scientists as diverse as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Johann Gottfried Herder, Carl Jung, Max Müller, Robert Oppenheimer, Erwin Schrödinger, Arthur Schopenhauer, and Henry David Thoreau have acknowledged their debt to ancient Hindu achievements in science, technology, and philosophy. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), one of the largest scientific organizations in the world, in 2000, published a timeline of 100 most important scientific finding in history to celebrate the new millennium. There were only two mentions from the non-Western world: (1) invention of zero and (2) the Hindu and Mayan skywatchers astronomical observations for agricultural and religious purposes. Both findings involved the works of the ancient Hindus. The Ancient Hindu Science is well documented with remarkable objectivity, proper citations, and a substantial bibliography. It highlights the achievements of this remarkable civilization through painstaking research of historical and scientific sources. The style of writing is lucid and elegant, making the book easy to read. This book is the perfect text for all students and others interested in the developments of science throughout history and among the ancient Hindus, in particular.

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Title from PDF title page (viewed on April 2, 2019).