This is the second volume in a series providing a chronological treatment of the historical development of science and technology. Deming (U. of Oklahoma) adopts largely the same approach and rationale as in the earlier volume (which was subtitled The Ancient World and Classical Civilization), detailing specific developments in particular sciences together with broader philosophical and methodological changes, although he places a rather strong emphasis on religion in this volume, specifically Christianity and Islam and their intertwined histories with scientific development. He includes chapters on Christianity, the Dark Ages, Islam, the High Middle Ages in Europe, Thomas Aquinas and scholasticism, Roger Bacon, and technological innovation during the middle ages. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)