Introduction

Our knowledge of crystalline materials has evolved from the time of the Ancient Greek philosophers through that of the medieval alchemists and natural philosophers of the Enlightenment and finally to the scientists of modern times. This chapter provides a brief and humanized introduction to the history, language, and tools of crystallography. Brief biographies are included here on some of the leading historical figures in the field, including Évariste Galois, Auguste Bravais, and Max von Laue.