Exploring the Roots: A History of Botany from Antiquity to Early Modernity

This weekly seminar delves into the fascinating evolution of botany, tracing its roots from antiquity to the early modern period in five modules: (1) We begin with the contributions of early scholars Theophrastus and Dioscorides to the foundational principles of plant classification and medicinal uses. (2) We examine the transmission of botanical knowledge through medieval herbals and Islamic scholars such as Ibn al-Baitar. (3) The third module turns to the botanical renaissance where we examine the impact of global exploration on the introduction of new plant species. (4) Module Four investigates the pioneering contributions of Carl Linnaeus to plant taxonomy and classification. (5) The course ends with a reflection on the cultural, economic, and scientific significance of botany in the eighteenth century.