Introduction

  • Seth C. Rasmussen
Chapter
First Online:
Part of the SpringerBriefs in Molecular Science book series (BRIEFSMOLECULAR, volume 3)

Abstract

Glass and its uses predate recorded history. Long before the ability to manufacture glass, early tribes discovered and shaped glass formed by nature. Such dark volcanic glass, or obsidian, is a naturally occurring silica-based material which is formed from the rapid cooling of volcanic lava. Obsidian can be found in most locations that have experienced the melting of silica-rich rock due to volcanic eruptions and such deposits were valued by prehistoric tribes due to the fact that it could be fractured to produce sharp blades or arrowheads.

Keywords

Manganese Dioxide Thirteenth Century Colored Glass Molten Glass Colorless Glass 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access

References

  1. 1.
    Philips CJ (1941) Glass: the miracle maker. Pitman Publishing Corporation, New York, pp 3–14Google Scholar
  2. 2.
    Cummings K (2002) A history of glassforming. A & C Black, London, pp 102–133Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    Macfarlane A, Martin G (2002) Glass, a world history. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 10–26Google Scholar
  4. 4.
    Kurkjian CR, Prindle WR (1998) Perspectives on the history of glass composition. J Am Ceram Soc 81:795–813CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. 5.
    Morey GW (1954) The properties of glass, 2nd edn. ACS monograph series No. 124, Reinhold Publishing, New York, pp 5–6Google Scholar
  6. 6.
    Axinte E (2011) Glass as engineering materials: a review. Mater Des 32:1717–1732CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. 7.
    Brill RH (1963) Ancient glass. Sci Am 109(5):120–130CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. 8.
    McCray WP, Kingery WD (1988) Introduction: toward a broader view of glass history and technology. In: McCray WP, Kingery WD (eds) The prehistory and history of glassmaking technology ceramics and civilization VIII. American Ceramic Society, Columbus, pp 1–13Google Scholar
  9. 9.
    Zachariasen WH (1932) The atomic arrangement in glass. J Am Chem Soc 54:3841–3851CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    Shaw I, Nicholson PT (1995) British museum dictionary of ancient Egypt. British Museum Press, London, pp 112–113Google Scholar
  11. 11.
    Cummings K (2002) A history of glassforming. A & C Black, London, p 48Google Scholar
  12. 12.
    Saldern AV, Oppenheim AL, Brill RH, Barag D (1988) Glass and glassmaking in ancient mesopotamia. Corning Museum of Glass Press, Corning, pp 56–57, 78Google Scholar
  13. 13.
    Lambert JB (1997) Traces of the past: unraveling the secrets of archaeology through Chemistry. Addison-Wesley, Reading, p 113 Google Scholar
  14. 14.
    Pliny the Elder (1906) Naturalis Historia. Mayhoff KFT (ed) Teubner, Lipsiae, Book XXXVIGoogle Scholar
  15. 15.
    Jacoby D (1993) Raw materials for the glass industries of venice and the terraferma, about 1370—about 1460. J Glass Studies 35:65–90Google Scholar
  16. 16.
    Lambert JB (2005) The 2004 Edelstein award address, the deep history of chemistry. Bull Hist Chem 30:1–9Google Scholar
  17. 17.
    Philips CJ (1941) Glass: the miracle maker. Pitman Publishing Corporation, New York, pp 36–44Google Scholar
  18. 18.
    Raymond R (1986) Out of the fiery furnace. the impact of metals on the history of mankind. The Pennsylvania State University Press: University Park, pp 16, 27Google Scholar
  19. 19.
    Turner WES (1956) Studies in ancient glasses and glassmaking processes. Part III. The chronology of the glassmaking constituents. J Soc Glass Technol 40:39T–52TGoogle Scholar
  20. 20.
    Turner WES (1956) Studies in ancient glasses and glassmaking processes. Part V. Raw materials and melting processes. J Soc Glass Technol 40:277T–300TGoogle Scholar
  21. 21.
    Philips CJ (1941) Glass: the miracle maker. Pitman Publishing Corporation, New York, pp 152–153Google Scholar
  22. 22.
    Saldern AV, Oppenheim AL, Brill RH, Barag D (1988) Glass and glassmaking in ancient mesopotamia. Corning Museum of Glass Press, Corning, pp 112–113Google Scholar
  23. 23.
    Lambert JB (1997) Traces of the past. unraveling the secrets of archaeology through chemistry. Addison-Wesley, Reading, p 105Google Scholar
  24. 24.
    Roger F, Beard A (1948) 5,000 years of glass. J. B. Lippincott Co., New York, pp 157–176Google Scholar
  25. 25.
    Philips CJ (1941) Glass: the miracle maker. Pitman Publishing Corporation, New York, pp 48–51Google Scholar
  26. 26.
    Roger F, Beard A (1948) 5,000 years of glass. J. B. Lippincott Co., New York, pp 108–111Google Scholar
  27. 27.
    Tait H (ed) (1991) Glass, 5,000 years. Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York, p 22Google Scholar
  28. 28.
    Roger F, Beard A (1948) 5,000 years of glass. J. B. Lippincott Co., New York, pp 1–5Google Scholar
  29. 29.
    Forbes RJ (1970) A short history of the art of distillation. E. J. Brill, Leiden, pp 76–85, 114Google Scholar
  30. 30.
    Rasmussen SC (2008) Advances in 13th century glass manufacturing and their effect on chemical progress. Bull Hist Chem 33:28–34Google Scholar
  31. 31.
    Johnson S (1826) The rambler. Thomas Tegg, LondonGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© The Author(s) 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  • Seth C. Rasmussen
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryNorth Dakota State UniversityFargoUSA

Personalised recommendations