Part 2/10:
Maxwell's seminal work arose in an era where the notion of fields—now understood as essential components of electromagnetism—was abstract and elusive. Unlike tangible entities that could be easily observed, electric and magnetic fields posed a conceptual challenge for the scientific community of the time. To communicate these ideas, Maxwell adeptly employed analogies and mechanical models, which may seem peculiar by today's standards. Nonetheless, these models were necessary expedients to bridge the gap between intuitive understanding and theoretical precision.