Introduction:

Welcome!!! This is a project designed to guide any interested zoologist or animal lover throughout the ages of how the study of animals progressed from the beginning. I have chosen this topic because not only am I an avid animal fan, but I am also a senior at the University of Oklahoma dedicating my undergraduate major towards Zoology. I am also entering the Spring 2009 semester at OU to complete a Master’s degree in Zoology as well. I am familiar with many ecological and biological interactions specifically relating to oceanic and freshwater systems (yes I am a fish freak!!!). As for knowledge about how Zoology derived Pre-Linnaeus, I am stuck. Until this course, I was unaware of the beginnings of this field of research, but I have sorted through and now understand more than I ever possibly imagined about how zoology derived. I have learned how zoology as a progressive approach became to be what we now understand it as. This project was extremely exciting for me and I hope that it is for other class members. Most of us grow up wanting to be a veterinarian or marine biologist throughout our childhoods, but when we reach the collegiate age opt for different majors, therefore, this is your chance to catch a glimpse of how famous scientists utilized zoology as a past time or profession. For instance, below is a sketching from Konrad Gesner's De rerum fossilium. What did people think of when fossils found in the soils of their own countries or strange animals were brought from the "new world" surfaced?

 Gesner's De rerum fossilium 1565

OU History of Science Collection

In my web project I have included three distinct "episodes" or time periods that have occurred throughout human history. The first episode is the 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. He is coined the “father” of zoology and contributed many important foundations to the beginning observations of this field (Lindberg). The second episode or say, my medieval time period is centered around the early to late middle ages notably between the 1200s. I want to emphasize the works of Sir Albert the Great (also known as, Albertus Magnus).He is the author of De Animalibus from 1519. For the final time period, I will dissect the modern or most recent history of zoology before Linnaeus' time. This period is known as the early modern era between the 15th and 17th centuries. Within this episode there are many notable scientists that contributed to the evolution of zoology.

The sources I utilized in this web project were very important to my understanding of this information. I used the course text books, as well as some secondary literature obtained from the University's library. More importantly, I used images and literature from the History of Science Collection's library.

For entertainment purposes and a little spice of creativity, I am including a detailed tour through a museum. Even more specifically related to my topic for this web page a tour through OU's very own Natural History museum!!! I have used the perspectives of 3rd person point of view and myself disguised as a museum tour guide to help assist you through the different episodes. The connection for including all three episodes in sequence is the overall question of how zoology came about before Linnaeus and Darwin. 

 "Let's begin the tour!!"