City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works All Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects 9-2017 An Examination of the Needham Question: Why Didn't China Have a Scientific Revolution Considering Its Early Scientific Accomplishments? Rebecca L. Olerich The Graduate Center, City University of New York How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/2307 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact:
[email protected] AN EXAMINATION OF THE NEEDHAM QUESTION: WHY DIDN’T CHINA HAVE A SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION CONSIDERING ITS EARLY SCIENTIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS? BY REBECCA OLERICH A master’s thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Liberal Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts, The City University of New York 2017 © 2017 REBECCA OLERICH All Rights Reserved !ii AN EXAMINATION OF THE NEEDHAM QUESTION: WHY DIDN’T CHINA HAVE A SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION CONSIDERING ITS EARLY SCIENTIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS? BY REBECCA OLERICH This manuscript has been read and accepted for the Graduate Faculty in Liberal Studies in satisfaction of the requirement for the degree of Master of Arts. _______________________ ______________________ Date Joseph W. Dauben Thesis Advisor _______________________ ______________________ Date Elizabeth Macaulay-Lewis Executive Officer THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK !iii ABSTRACT AN EXAMINATION OF THE NEEDHAM QUESTION: WHY DIDN’T CHINA HAVE A SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION CONSIDERING ITS EARLY SCIENTIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS? BY REBECCA OLERICH Advisor: Joseph W.