Chemistry and industry, 1500-2000

Abstract

According to a widespread view, popular among economic historians and historians of technology alike, science and industry were miles apart during most of their history. Only since the so-called 'Scientific-Technical Revolution' (Bernal), or 'Second Industrial Revolution' (Landes) (1870–1914), science, technology and industry became closely intertwined, leading to science-based industry, scientific technology, and technoscience. In this paper, I will argue that almost the opposite is true. In the 16th to 18th centuries chemistry and the chemical industries were hardly differentiated from each other, and there were numerous connections via the use of common equipment and materials. The story presented shows that between 1500 and 2000 chemistry and industry have always been closely related. But the nature of the relation changed over time. During the first three centuries after the emergence of chemistry as a discipline, the common laboratory practices formed the major link between chemistry and the industry. Later, laboratory investigations played a more independent role, although the questions posed and the materials used were often strongly influenced by the industry. During its entire history industrial innovation never was dependent on chemical insights alone. It was always a far more heterogeneous process.