Alchemy is usually considered to be the medieval occult science par excellence. The marginal and lonely alchemist on the quest to transform and perfect nature surrounded with obscure volumes, noxious fumes, vessels of glass and ancient secrets dominates our imagination. But, with the social and economic changes that occurred in the centuries following the Black Death, the alchemists of Central Europe became increasing professionalized even contracted experts in the fields of medicine and mining. These “Entrepreneurial Alchemists” stood at the crossroads of the medieval world and modern capitalism, the state, industrial mining and heavy industry.
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#alchemy #occult #hermeticism
Smith – The Business of Alchemy: Science and Culture in the Holy Roman – 978-0691173238
Nummedal – Alchemy and Authority in the Holy Roman Empire – 978-0226608563
Linden, Stanton J. (ed.) The Alchemy Reader: From Hermes Trismegistus to Isaac Newton. 978-0521796620. Nicely edited collection of alchemical primary texts.
Principe, Lawrence. The Secrets of Alchemy. 978-0226103792. An up-to-date history of alchemy.
Roob, Alexander(ed.) Alchemy & Mysticism. 978-3836549363. A collection of alchemical imagery and symbolism, also a nice coffee table book!
