Overview

The beginning of animal science, or zoology, is often traced to the influential naturalist Albertus Magnus (1200-1280). After many centuries of nearly complete reliance on superstition and on the writings of respected ancient scholars, this German theologian and philosopher proposed the notion that information about nature could and should be collected by actually observing the various aspects of nature. Other philosophers, particularly Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) and Roger Bacon (c. 1220-1293) continued this call for a "natural" rather than "revealed" truth, and science began to develop independently from theology and superstition. This shift in thinking cleared the way for the development of zoology as a field of study.

Background

Compared to the numerous early scientific advances...