This manual covers Rational Mechanics: The Classic Notre Dame Course, developed from a classic undergraduate course focusing on the study of the motion of bodies. It emphasizes the history of science alongside relevant physics and mathematics. Suitable for undergraduates and beginning graduate students, the volume explores ancient Greek celestial mechanics, the seventeenth-century scientific revolution, vector spaces, differential geometry, particle dynamics, kinematics, theories of light, and the special theory of relativity.

The purpose of this manual is to provide a comprehensive resource for understanding the principles of rational mechanics. It details historical scientific developments and fundamental physics and mathematical concepts. This text serves as a guide for students and researchers seeking a deep understanding of classical and modern mechanics, offering insights into the evolution of scientific thought and its application to the study of motion.