ABSTRACT
Industry and the sciences have had a long and intimate connection with each other, although industry and commerce were flourishing long before science had registered its present technical achievements. Astronomical research flourished, possibly from a superstitious interest in astrology, but also for the provision of a calendar for farming, while the Phoenicians used the knowledge so obtained for navigational purposes and may have been the first sailors to steer at night by the aid of the North Star. A new spirit was abroad, it is true, but its influence was limited to a very narrow circle and a considerable time elapsed before the products of the new thought began to show themselves in industry. The inception of the new scientific spirit typified by the Royal Society and the growing urge for increased production to meet expanding markets were, however, preparing the ground for the seeds of the revolution in industry that was soon to come.
