Perhaps it was the ideas of the Age of
Enlightenment that
started a more profound study of the plants and animals of the
earth. "Back to nature" was then the parole and obviously
among
people it was understood positively as they devoted themselves to get
involved
into more detailed studies of the abundant plant and animal life of the
earth. The intentions could be both noble and crass. Anyhow,
a string of
new elements have been introduced since the 18th century when we now
study
nature through our modern instruments - so well-developed and
complicated - and
techniques, exceptional communications and not at least our financial
resources
to investigate this fantastic world in detail. That was not the
situation in
the 18th century. At that time primitive - compared to our time -
methods were
used, poor communications and obviously, poor protective nets for the
fragile
human being. But great enthusiasm, which was the mainspring of the
scientists,
was completely overwhelming. In this Linnaeus was the great pioneer
who,
figuratively, started to set the wheel in motion, and, it still keeps
on
rolling. This unpretentious work will be under constant construction
and
fragmentarily presented. To grasp the extent of natural sciences of the
world
is an impossible task. Especially I admire among all
scientists the German
Alfred von Brehm (1829-1884), who probably is the owner of most
knowledge ever
accumulated among men concerning animal life on earth.
You will find on my sites huge gaps of knowledge, probably
more extensive
than the contents in itself, but if there is somebody out there in
position to
offer some more pieces of the puzzle, they will be welcomed with my
deepest
gratitude.
By the way, Entomology is closely related to Botany, as an
entomologist
has consequently to be a partial botanist. You are welcome to
watch my
pages and take part of Natural Science History - primarily seen through
the
eyes of a humble amateur entomologist.
Göran
Waldeck
Introduction
1. Carl (Carolus) Linnaeus
2. Linnaeus' disciples
3. Some Swedish entomologists
and other scientists from the 1700th, 1800th, 1900th and early 2000th
Centuries
4. Some foreign entomologists
from the 1600th, 1700th, 1800th, 1900th and 2000th Centuries
Some sources:
Alfred Brehm: Djurens liv,
Världelitteraturens Förlag, Malmö 1931
Berömda män, Stora
gestalter genom tiderna, Reader´s Digest 1967
Björn Dal: The Butterfly
Theft (from newspaper)
Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2003
Gaedike, R. & Groll, E. eds.
2001 Entomologen der Welt (Biographien, Sammlungsverbleib). Datenbank,
DEI Eberswalde im ZALF e.V.
Motýlkár
Castelpul,
author
Nationalencykolpedin 1998,
Bokförlaget Bra böcker, 263 80
Höganäs
Göran
Sjöberg, entomologist, consultant
Tuzov, Bogdanov, Devyatkin, Kaabak,
Krolev, Murzin, Samodurov, Tarasov: Guide to the Butterflies
of Russia and Adjacent Territories, Moscow 1997
Webster´s Interactive
Encyclopedia 1996e.V.
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