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ZOOLOGICAL BEGINNINGS Prepared by: LOIDA S. OTICO mased
FOCUS QUESTION: How ZOOLOGY came about before Linnaeus and Darwin?
Three Distinct Episodes ---Ancient science age (also known as the Hellenic period or around 400-330 BC) *Aristotle will serve as the main focus of this time period.- the “father” of zoology and contributed many important foundations to the beginning observations of this field ---Medieval time period (around the early to late middle ages notably between the 1200s) *emphasized the works of Sir Albert the Great (also known as, Albertus Magnus)- the author of De Animalibus from 1519 --- Early modern era between the 15th and 17th centuries. *named some of the many notable scientists that contributed to the evolution of zoology.
ANCIENT SCIENCE *the Cro-Magnons- (who of which replaced the Neanderthals long ago) used etching and cave sketches to document some of the earliest known pictures of the animals they readily and occasionally encountered.
ANCIENT SCIENCE These famous carvings are found in various places from different individuals. From deer and fish, to reindeer these early depictions were anatomically proportional and varied between different species*.
During Stone Age: from 1,8 millions years to 18 000 years BC. There were several examples of deer reproduction in parietal art: wall paints, engraved bones.
found in south of France, in Ardeche region. It was the oldest paints of deer. Those paints are from 31000 years BC, aurignacian culture. It's up to day the oldest paints found.
Lascaux caves are in south of France. These deer paints on the wall are from 17000 BC.
ANCIENT SCIENCE Aristotle (382-322 BC) *created his History of Animals that zoology became a science * In his work, he collected all the known facts about approximately 500 animals, and devised the first known classification system.
Aristotle’s system: • Animals without blood • 1. Mollusks • 2. Crabs • 3. Insects • Animals with blood 1. 4-footed animals that bear their young 2. 4-footed animals that lay eggs 3. Birds 4. Fish
The following texts were written in Aristotle's 1476 treatise De Animalibus
Medieval Science *This era may sound daunting, but it actually served as an important time period for the field of science. *There are two main distinctions of the medieval time period that the study of zoology has influenced ----- The observation and experimentation that led to information based on natural philosophy * zoology served no practical application, such as medicinal or other physiological observations during the time, and zoology easily fell second to the opposing study of botany.
Medieval Science Physiologus - a form of medieval literature that associated with a specific animal and a character trait. *Pliny the Elder combined fact and fantasy for his studies of natural history . For example, the centaur and phoenix both debuted in collections and illustrations during the medieval period. * the middle ages provided the obvious errs in using mythology and folklore to describe natural history.
Albertus Magnus- also known as Albert the Great (1193-1280) Albertus Magnus was one of the only natural philosophers of the late middle ages that gave the present day historians an in depth view of recorded observations during this time period. He cited particular animals according to their genus to each of 'their own lifestyles, their dwelling places, and their motion'
*Albert the Great's translated version of "On animals, a medieval summa zoology“- a continuation of Aristotle's keen observation and detailed which has also known De Animalibus. • * has the same title with the book of Aristotle but they are two different books written in two different time periods. • *the books written by Magnus comprise of twenty-two books with different topics related to animals and humans. *Some examples of how his categorized animals reflected his ability of observation in the field, such as the lobster and sea locust had similar movements and were quite opposite of that of the squids, octopuses, and cuttlefishes or also known as the cephalopods
Below is the beginning (books 1-10) of the contents page: Book 1: On animal and human members First tract: the diversity of animal members Second tract: the deposition of human members Third tract: internal members Book 2: Comparison of the human and other animals Book 3: On the origin of the uniform members in animals Book 4: Bloodless marine animals Book 5: Generation of animals First tract: differences in their copulation Second tract: Sperm production and the formation of young Third tract: On the generation of viviparous walkers Book 6: The nature anatomy and generation of eggs Book 7: First tract: dispositions and life of animals Second tract: health and illnesses of animals Book 8: Animal habits Book 9: On the principles and origin of human generation First tract: on human origin from a mature seed Book 10: On impediments to generation
Albertus Magnus- also known as • Albert the Great (1193-1280 He gives attention to both terrestrial and aquatic animals. Some examples of how his categorized animals reflected his ability of observation in the field, such as the lobster and sea locust had similar movements and were quite opposite of that of the squids, octopuses, and cuttlefishes or also known as the cephalopods He also witnessed different animal groups and tried to relate them based on their physiological capabilities. For example, in avarian species he specifically noticed the variation between sharp talons and hooked talons. He used dissection to connect behavior functions to that of internal structures.
Early and Modern Zoology *This is the most recent time period leading into the modern methodology of scientific explorations! There is plenty to learn from this period, as well as many influential, scientific leaders that expressed their findings during the times.“ *Many scientists during this time made efforts to broaden the understanding of animals from the "New World" and the Old.
PierreBelon *noted several anatomical similarities between the human skeleton and that of a birds *published La nature and diuersite des poissons in 1551 that contained many illustrations of his observations of fishes, marine mammals, and birds * His contributions led others to build upon comparative anatomy for various species, as well as explore more unknowns about the animal world.
Pierre Belon noted several anatomical similarities between the human skeleton and that of a birds (Debus 38). Belon published La nature and diuersite des poissons in 1551 that contained many illustrations of his observations of fishes, marine mammals, and birds (Debus 37). His contributions led others to build upon comparative anatomy for various species, as well as explore more unknowns about the animal world. His contributions led others to build upon comparative anatomy for various species, as well as explore more unknowns about the animal world.
Edward Topsell He was a famous natural historian that published Historie of Four-Footed Beastesand Historie of Serpents in 1607 and 1608, respectively. These contained again the mythological and observational combination of animals primarily to serve the religious context found in the Bible. However, more and more scientists were digressing from this type of zoology and branching out.
Conrad Gesner *contributed to the 16th century progression of zoology. *produced a five volume bibliography of his knowledge of plants and animals entitled, History Animalum. *He uses similar methods of classification as Aristotle by ordering data and observations by fish, insects, birds and so on
Gesner's depictions of the fishes (1598) University of Okahoma History of Science Collection
Robert Hooke, (1665) was a reknown innovator whom had improved the compound microscope and observed what he called, "little boxes or cells" . This would be the birth of what we known understand as cells.
From: The Micrographia or some physiological descriptions of minute bodies made by magnifying glasses. The Microscope
Antoine Van Leeuwenhoek devote his lifetime towards observing new undiscovered areas of biology under the microscope during the 1600s and 1700s
MY INTERPRETATION: Certainly taking a step out of today's modern scientific explorations and researching the ultimate basics of fundamental science was key to understanding how zoology began. Indirectly, people that came before the education push, such as the Cro-Magnons, used animals they encountered on a hunt or every day life to record in cave etchings..
MY INTERPRETATION: As we can see zoology has transformed from simply Aristotle's observations to distinct branches of science, including marine biology, comparative anatomy, and microbiology. These are just a few of the early modern deviations of biology. Within the next two centuries biology would be broken down to many more distinct fields of study.