# La Nova Scientia: Rewriting the History of Operational Research

## TL;DR

This paper challenges the traditional view of Operational Research origins, proposing that its roots are linked to technological advances in 15th-16th century Western Europe rather than wartime applications.

## Contribution

It offers a novel historical perspective by connecting the origins of Operational Research to early technological developments in Europe, diverging from the common wartime narrative.

## Key findings

- Operational Research's roots are linked to 15th-16th century European technological advances.
- The traditional wartime origin story is reconsidered in light of earlier historical developments.
- The paper provides a new historical context for understanding the evolution of Operational Research.

## Abstract

The accepted lore is that Operational Research traces its roots back to the First and Second World Wars, when scientific research was used to improve military operations. In this essay we provide a different perspective on the origins of Operational Research by arguing that these are deeply intertwined with the impressive technological advances in Western Europe between the fifteenth and the sixteenth centuries.