Biology in Ancient Rome PDF

Preview

Summary

Murray Pendarvis
Culture, Biology in Ancient Rome, people who contributed to Biology during that time...

Description

Biology in Ancient Rome Roman biology peaked between the middle of the first century B.C. and the end of the second century A.D. As for as science, Greek leadership drove the engines of Roman science. The majority of Roman biologists were medical men of Greek origins. Roman politicians during this time were more concerned with building and maintaining an empire than research associated with science. Practical applications in agriculture and medicine abounded. Applied botany turned to medical and agricultural purposes. Rome’s greatest contributions in biology came from developing good hygiene. Sewers were constructed to carry wasted to the river and people were instructed not to use the water. Cities were built away from swamps to prevent malaria. Baths were built for cleanliness but eventually became loafing areas. The aqueducts filtered and brought abundant water to the city. The Romans were noted for their legal systems more than their science. Rome became officially Christian in the 4th Century A.D. Lucretius (99-54 B.C.) Educated in Greece, he became a cultured Roman. Most of his life was spent writing a single poem entitled, “The Nature of Things”, which was unfinished at his death. The poem is divided into six volumes. He believed that the earth was mortal and will eventually perish. He also explained the stars, planets, and moon. He believed in spontaneous generation and discussed the origin of plant and animal life in this manner. He felt that intellectual men should dedicate their lives to eradicating superstition. He also used atoms to explain how this works. He helped save the atomic theory from a disapproving church. He discussed human evolution and suggested heredity mechanisms in plants before Mendel. He thought that the material universe was godless, eternal, and endless. Lucretius believed that worlds other than earth existed in the universe and were formed by chance. Lucretius believed that early humans were naked robust forms that wondered the woodlands. Lucretius hypothesized that they lived in the caves and ate acorns and killed wild beasts with clubs. Later, his humans developed language, used fire, wore animal skins, developed social units, and waged war. Later humans developed agriculture, domesticated animals, used metals, developed religion and laws. Surprisingly accurate for 2000 years ago! Pliny the Elder: (Gaius Plinius Secondis 23-79 A.D.) Was a very interesting naturalist, man of literature, government, and the military. His encyclopedia Historia Naturalis was a collection of information gathered from all over the world. Some 473 authors and over 34,000 facts were included. This work even included very wild tales such as legends and yams. His work influenced readers well into the Renaissance. In sales, it was second only to the Bible for centuries. He speculated about the shape of the earth and its places in the heavens, the role of the moon in tides, and inhabitants on the other side of the planet. In book 7 of his vast works, he addressed zoology. He said that man was the highest species and perhaps closely kin to elephants because they took human orders. He discussed strange humans in faraway places with backward turned feet, cyclops faces, cannibals, hermaphrodites, having double pupils, polydactyly, having eyes on the shoulders, and so on. Apparently, some of these people were real while others were pure imagination. He talked of a 69-foot giant at Crete. Probably, it was an exaggerated whale skeleton or fossil. Did you know according to Pliny that if a pregnant woman has too much salt in the diet the body would be born without nails? If she sneezes after copulation the baby would be aborted. Pliny believed in spontaneous generation. Flies were thought to come from dirt touched by the sun. The world had no beginning or end. Either Pliny was very gullible in his writings or just wanted to mix crazy tales with truths. His work serves as a window to science and the natural world long ago. On August 23 and 24, 79 A.D. curiosity killed the cat when he ventured to observe Mount Vesuvius overwhelming the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. He is buried somewhere in Pompeii under volcanic ash.

Columella: (2nd Century A.D.) He thought that supernatural elements were involved in medicine. He was one of the few biologists that studied agriculture. His 12-volume set was a classic on agriculture and horticulture. He also suggested care of crops. These were important concepts because Rome conquered so much land and had to support a large army. Eventually Rome outgrew its ability to sustain and was taken over by various German hordes. The works of Columella helped sustain an expanding Roman territory. Celsus: (14-37 A.D.) Known as the ‘Father of Scientific Latin’. He compiled a great work of medicine from Greece through Alexandria. He quoted Hippocrates greatly. He criticized Erasistratus and Herophilus of torturing over 600 people by vivisection. His compilation consists of eight books that are considered excellent. It was ignored during most of the Middle Ages until in the!5th century, it was resurrected and considered one of the greatest medical books available.

The first two volumes addressed bloodletting, and the effects of food and drink on the body. The third volume treated subjects such as liver and jaundice, palsy, and constipation among other maladies. He said the signs of inflammation were heat, redness, swelling, and pain. The fourth book dealt with internal diseases, the fifth with drugs and their uses, the sixth with the special senses such as the eye, skin, ear, nose, or teeth. In this volume he went to great lengths to discuss how to remove foreign bodies from the nose and ear by hitting the affected structure with a board. The seventh and eighth volumes dealt with surgery such as removing arrowheads, hernias, cataracts, tonsils, goiter, etc...) In this book the attributes of the surgeon are set forth: ‘‘he should be youthful or in early middle age, with a strong and steady hand, an expert with the left hand as with the right, with vision sharp and clear, and spirit undaunted; so far void of pity that while he wishes only to cure his patient, yet is not moved by his cries to go too fast, or cut less than is necessary. ” Crateuas: (Circa 50 B.C.) He was the physician of King Mithridates VI of Pontos. Crateuas is known as the “Father of Botanical

Illustration”. His drawings were superb and his research on the effects of metals on the body were excellent. He contributed knowledge to toxicology as well. Mithridates VI (120-63 B.C.) was known as the “Father of Toxicology” He is best known for his valiant fight against Roman takeover. He was an Asiatic prince with a Greek education. Also he was a master of 22 languages. He lived in a world where murder was common. In fact murder by poisoning was in vogue in the royal courts. He refined the art of poisoning and wrote poisoning counter measures. He experimented on prisoner guinea pigs. He supposedly developed a universal cure that all called Mithridatum. He died of his greatest fear - he was poisoned. Dioscorides: (54 - 86 A. D.) A Greek serving as a Roman military surgeon. He was dedicated to improving medicine in all of Rome.

His greatest work included cataloguing plants and their medical effects on his many journeys. He once allowed his men to make azalea tea killing many and poisoning over 1000. His book, Materia Medica was a standard in early pharmacy. Cladius Galen: (131-200 A.D.) ( Galen of Pergamum) Sometimes called Windbag and Mulehead. He was the son of Nikon the

ancient architect. A Greek physician that practiced in Rome. By 13, he had written three medical books. He was an excellent physician and scholar. His studies took him to Alexandria and all over the known world. In his original home of Pergamum, he served as a physician to the gladiators. Here he received excellent emergency room training! He was a brilliant doctor, showman and shrewd observer. Pagan but sympathetic to Christians. Used biology to praise God. One of last Asclepians, he stressed hygiene, diet, physical therapy, peace and quiet. Galen studied Aristotle and Hippocrates, but also put much faith in observation. He stressed the four humors. In Rome, Galen established a successful practice and treated many influential people. He was widely known as “the wonder worker”. He was confident in his skills and criticized many standard beliefs. Other physicians became very jealous of Galen, and he left Rome. He did return to...