Intro to Evolution: Historical Perspective

Charles Darwin defined "evolution" as "descent with modification"

Our ideas about how evolution occurs date from mid-19^TH century Europe

How did educated Europeans view the world in 1800?

Evolution did not occur

~ literal interpretation of Genesis not at odds with data

Biology and religion had close relationship

Nature theology

Typological species concept

"Great Chain of Being"

Some events of 19^TH century challenged this view

Hutton/ Lyell (uniformitarianism)

More travel

Fossils

Rev. Thomas Malthus