Elephant Science and Empire in the Late 18th Century

This article studies three texts devoted to the classification of elephants, an analysis of their habits, and an examination of the characteristics and formation of their teeth, which were published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society in 1799. It traces their Indian sources and follows their consequences in the European scientific milieu. These materials contribute to a complex image of the production of local and global knowledge in the context of European expansion and empire. At the same time, they point to the importance of Indian science and provide clear evidence of its sophistication and diversity. Comparative analysis of these works challenges the dichotomy between “indigenous knowledge” and “European science.” These findings are interpreted through the notion of cultural translation, an approach that highlights the role of unequal power relations.