Science and Empire in Eastern Europe

The essays in this volume present a nuanced analysis of the development of scientific fields and institutions in Eastern Europe during the “long 19th century” (1789–1914).

In 19th century Western Europe science often developed in the context of emerging national states. In Eastern and East-Central Europe, however, until World War I science operated in the imperial framework of the Habsburg and Tsarist Empires. The imperial characteristics of these states (such as multinationality, linguistic diversity, and a pronounced polarity between centers and peripheries) created specific conditions for the sciences. Taking this observation as a starting point, this volume addresses the interplay of science and empire in Imperial Russia and the Habsburg Monarchy in a comparative framework.