Alchemy is an early protoscientific and philosophical discipline combining the elements of chemistry, metallurgy, physics, medicine, astrology, semiotics, mysticism, and art. Alchemy has been practiced in ancient Egypt, India, and China, in Classical Greece and Rome, in the Islamic Empire, and then in Europe up to the 19th century — in a complex network of schools and philosophical systems spanning at least 2500 years. The alchemists did not follow what is now known as the scientific method, and much of the "knowledge" they p ...

Including:

• Alchemy - Overview
• Alchemy - Alchemy as a proto-science
• Alchemy - The changing goals of alchemy
• Alchemy - Alchemy and astrology
• Alchemy - Alchemy in the age of science
• Alchemy - Alchemy as a subject of historical research
• Alchemy - Etymology
• Alchemy - History
• Alchemy - Alchemy in Ancient Egypt
• Alchemy - Chinese alchemy
• Alchemy - Indian alchemy
• Alchemy - Alchemy in the Greek world
• Alchemy - Alchemy in the Roman Empire
• Alchemy - Alchemy in the Islamic world
• Alchemy - Alchemy in Medieval Europe
• Alchemy - Alchemy in the Modern Age and Renaissance
• Alchemy - The decline of Western alchemy
• Alchemy - Modern 'alchemy'
• Alchemy - Alchemy in art and entertainment
• Alchemy - Literature
• Alchemy - Music
• Alchemy - Other alchemical pages
• Alchemy - Related and alternative philosophies
• Alchemy - Scientific connections
• Alchemy - Substances of the alchemists
• Alchemy - Other resources

Read more here: » Alchemy: Encyclopedia - Alchemy

Alchemy encompasses several philosophical traditions spanning some four millennia and three continents. These traditions' general penchant for cryptic and symbolic language makes it hard to trace their mutual influences and "genetic" relationships. One can distinguish at least two major strands, which appear to be largely independent, at least in their earlier stages: Chinese alchemy, centered in China and its zone of cultural influence; and Western alchemy, whose center has shifted over the millennia between Egypt, Greece and Rome, t ...

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Alchemy, Alchemy - Overview, Alchemy - Alchemy as a proto-science, Alchemy - The changing goals of alchemy, Alchemy - Alchemy and astrology, Alchemy - Alchemy in the age of science, Alchemy - Alchemy as a subject of historical research, Alchemy - Etymology, Alchemy - History, Alchemy - Alchemy in Ancient Egypt, Alchemy - Chinese alchemy, Alchemy - Indian alchemy, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Greek world, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Roman Empire, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Islamic world, Alchemy - Alchemy in Medieval Europe, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Modern Age and Renaissance, Alchemy - The decline of Western alchemy, Alchemy - Modern 'alchemy', Alchemy - Alchemy in art and entertainment, Alchemy - Literature, Alchemy - Music, Alchemy - Other alchemical pages, Alchemy - Related and alternative philosophies, Alchemy - Scientific connections, Alchemy - Substances of the alchemists, Alchemy - Other resources

Read more here: » Alchemy: Encyclopedia II - Alchemy - History

Alchemy - Alchemy as a proto-science. The common perception of alchemists is that they were pseudo-scientists, crackpots and charlatans who attempted to turn lead into gold, believed that the universe was composed of the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water, and spent most of their time concocting miraculous remedies, poisons, and magic potions. In popular view (and popular art) alchemists are hardly distinguished from wizards, seers, astrologers, quack doctors, and other mo ...

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Alchemy, Alchemy - Overview, Alchemy - Alchemy as a proto-science, Alchemy - The changing goals of alchemy, Alchemy - Alchemy and astrology, Alchemy - Alchemy in the age of science, Alchemy - Alchemy as a subject of historical research, Alchemy - Etymology, Alchemy - History, Alchemy - Alchemy in Ancient Egypt, Alchemy - Chinese alchemy, Alchemy - Indian alchemy, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Greek world, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Roman Empire, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Islamic world, Alchemy - Alchemy in Medieval Europe, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Modern Age and Renaissance, Alchemy - The decline of Western alchemy, Alchemy - Modern 'alchemy', Alchemy - Alchemy in art and entertainment, Alchemy - Literature, Alchemy - Music, Alchemy - Other alchemical pages, Alchemy - Related and alternative philosophies, Alchemy - Scientific connections, Alchemy - Substances of the alchemists, Alchemy - Other resources

Read more here: » Alchemy: Encyclopedia II - Alchemy - Overview

Alchemy - Literature. Many authors lampooned alchemists and used them as the butt of satirical attacks. Two famous examples of these include the play The Alchemist by Ben Jonson and, two hundred years earlier, Geoffrey Chaucer's literary work Canon's Yeoman's Tale. Some others noteworthy examples include: The anime and manga series Fullmetal Alchemist (Hagane no Renkinjutsushi), by Hiromu Arakawa, is about two alchemists, and is largely concerned with Alchemy. The Philosopher's Stone is ...

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Alchemy, Alchemy - Overview, Alchemy - Alchemy as a proto-science, Alchemy - The changing goals of alchemy, Alchemy - Alchemy and astrology, Alchemy - Alchemy in the age of science, Alchemy - Alchemy as a subject of historical research, Alchemy - Etymology, Alchemy - History, Alchemy - Alchemy in Ancient Egypt, Alchemy - Chinese alchemy, Alchemy - Indian alchemy, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Greek world, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Roman Empire, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Islamic world, Alchemy - Alchemy in Medieval Europe, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Modern Age and Renaissance, Alchemy - The decline of Western alchemy, Alchemy - Modern 'alchemy', Alchemy - Alchemy in art and entertainment, Alchemy - Literature, Alchemy - Music, Alchemy - Other alchemical pages, Alchemy - Related and alternative philosophies, Alchemy - Scientific connections, Alchemy - Substances of the alchemists, Alchemy - Other resources

Read more here: » Alchemy: Encyclopedia II - Alchemy - Alchemy in art and entertainment

The word alchemy comes from the Arabic al-kīmiyaˀ or al-khīmiyaˀ (الكيمياء or الخيمياء), which is probably formed from the article al- and the Greek word chumeia (χυμεία) meaning "cast together", "pour together", "weld", "alloy", etc. (from khumatos, "that which is poured out, an ingot"). A decree of Diocletian, written about 300 CE in Greek, speaks against "the ancient writings of the Egyptians, which treat of the khēmia ...

See also:

Alchemy, Alchemy - Overview, Alchemy - Alchemy as a proto-science, Alchemy - The changing goals of alchemy, Alchemy - Alchemy and astrology, Alchemy - Alchemy in the age of science, Alchemy - Alchemy as a subject of historical research, Alchemy - Etymology, Alchemy - History, Alchemy - Alchemy in Ancient Egypt, Alchemy - Chinese alchemy, Alchemy - Indian alchemy, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Greek world, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Roman Empire, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Islamic world, Alchemy - Alchemy in Medieval Europe, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Modern Age and Renaissance, Alchemy - The decline of Western alchemy, Alchemy - Modern 'alchemy', Alchemy - Alchemy in art and entertainment, Alchemy - Literature, Alchemy - Music, Alchemy - Other alchemical pages, Alchemy - Related and alternative philosophies, Alchemy - Scientific connections, Alchemy - Substances of the alchemists, Alchemy - Other resources

Read more here: » Alchemy: Encyclopedia II - Alchemy - Etymology