Sir William Cecil Dampier (1867-1952) was a British scientist and agriculturalist who was knighted in 1931 for services to agriculture. In this book, which was first published in 1944, Dampier provides an accessible account of the development of science from its origins in prehistory through to the discoveries of the twentieth century. Illustrative figures and a bibliography are also included. This is a highly readable book that will be of value to anyone with an interest in the writings of Dampier and the history of science.