Middle Ages Timeline of zoology

isidoro di siviglia, etimologie,. bruxelles, bibliothèque royale albert i



600 c. isidorus hispalensis (spanish bishop of seville) (560–636) wrote origines sive etymologiae, compendium on animals served until rediscovery of aristotle , pliny. full of errors, nevertheless influential hundreds of years. wrote de natura rerum.
781. al-jahiz (afro-arab, 781–868/869), scholar @ basra, wrote on influence of environment on animals.
901. horses came wider use in parts of europe three-field system produces grain surpluses feed, hay-fed oxen more economical, if less efficient, in terms of time , labor , remained sole source of animal power in southern europe, farmers continued use two-field system.


ploughing oxen in 15th century. très riches heures du duc de berry



1114. gerard of cremona (1114–1187), after capture of toledo , libraries moors, translated ptolemy, aristotle, euclid, hippocrates, galen, pliny , many other classical authors arabic.
1244–1248. frederick ii von hohenstaufen (holy roman emperor) (1194–1250) wrote de arte venandi cum avibus (the art of hunting birds) practical guide ornithology. hawking sport royalty in days.


falconry manesse codex, zürich



1244. vincentius bellovacensis (vincent of beauvais) (?–1264) wrote speculum quadruplex naturale, doctrinale, morale, historiale (1244–1254), major encyclopedia of 13th century. work comprises 3 huge volumes, of 80 books , 9,885 chapters.
1248. thomas of cantimpré‚ (fleming, 1204?–1275?) wrote liber de natura rerum, major 13th-century encyclopedia.
1254–1323. marco polo (italian, 1254–1323) provided information on asiatic fauna, revealing new animals europeans. unicorns (rhinos?) reported southern china, fantastic animals otherwise not included.
1255–1270. albertus magnus of cologne (bavarian, 1206?–1280) (albert von bollstaedt or st. albert) wrote de animalibus. promoted aristotle included new material on perfection , intelligence of animals, bees.
1304–1309. petrus de crescentii wrote ruralum commodorum, practical manual agriculture many accurate observations on insects , other animals. apiculture discussed @ length.
1453. fall of constantinople turks ended byzantine empire. greek manuscripts became known in europe, including books aristotle , theophrastos translated latin theodore gaza (greek, ?–1478).


bartholomaeus anglicus, vanden proprieteyten der dighen. haarlem: jacob bellaert, 24. december 1485



1492–1555. edward wotton (english, 1492–1555) wrote de differentiis animalium, thought-out work influenced gesner.
1492. christopher columbus (italian) arrives in new world. new animals begin overload european zoology. columbus said have introduced cattle, horses, , 8 pigs canary islands hispaniola in 1493, giving rise virtual devastation of , other islands. pigs set ashore sailors provide food on ship s later return. feral populations of hogs dangerous humans.
1500 c. paracelsus (theophrastus bambastus von hohenheim) (swiss or german?, 1493–1541), alchemist, wrote poisons should used against disease: recommended mercury treating syphilis.
1519–1520. bernal diaz del castillo (spanish, 1450?–1500), chronicler of cortez s conquest of mexico, commented on zoological gardens of aztec ruler montezuma (1466–1520), marvel parrots, rattlesnakes, etc.
1523. gonzalo fernández de oviedo y valdés(spanish, 1478–1557), appointed official historiographer of indies in 1523, wrote sumario de la natural historia delas indias (toledo, 1527). first describe many new world animals, such tapir, opossum, manatee, iguana, armadillo, ant-eaters, sloth, pelican, humming birds, etc.