Botany History Timeline

300 - 9223372036854775807 15 events

laying groundwork for botany

Theophrastus'

-300

Theophrastus writes foundational botanical texts on plant classification and uses

renaissance developments

Renaissance Revival of Botany

1500s

Renewed interest in classical botanical texts leads to botanical gardens and herbaria

botanical institutions

Establishment of Botanical Gardens

1500s–1600s

Botanical gardens founded across Europe for research and education

botanical literature

Publication of

1542

Leonhart Fuchs publishes detailed herbal with accurate plant illustrations

microscopy

Discovery of Plant Cell Structure

1665

Robert Hooke observes plant cells under microscope coining the term "cell"

taxonomy

Introduction of Binomial Nomenclature

1753

Carl Linnaeus introduces binomial nomenclature standardizing plant naming

plant physiology

Development of Plant Physiology

1800s

Scientists study plant functions including photosynthesis and respiration

evolutionary biology

Publication of

1859

Charles Darwin introduces evolutionary theory impacting plant classification

Multiple Events

3 Events in 1900s

1900s

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Multiple Events

2 Events in 2000s

2000s

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influencing Western herbal medicine

Dioscorides'

Dioscorides compiles a comprehensive herbal detailing medicinal plants

natural history

Pliny the Elder's

Pliny the Elder publishes encyclopedic work covering natural history including plants

-300 1500s 1500s–1600s 1542 1665 1753 1800s 1859 1900s 2000s 60 77

Botany History Timeline

Title	Date	Era	Description	Category
Theophrastus’ “Historia Plantarum”	~300 BCE	Ancient Greece	Theophrastus writes foundational botanical texts on plant classification and uses, laying the groundwork for botany.	Foundational Works
Dioscorides’ “De Materia Medica”	~60 CE	Ancient Rome	Dioscorides compiles a comprehensive herbal detailing medicinal plants, influencing Western herbal medicine for centuries.	Medical Botany
Pliny the Elder’s “Natural History”	~77 CE	Ancient Rome	Pliny the Elder publishes an encyclopedic work encompassing various aspects of natural history, including extensive plant sections.	Natural History
Renaissance Revival of Botany	15th–16th centuries	Renaissance	Renewed interest in classical botanical texts leads to the establishment of botanical gardens and herbaria.	Renaissance Developments
Publication of “De Historia Stirpium”	1542	Renaissance	Leonhart Fuchs publishes a detailed herbal with accurate illustrations, advancing plant identification.	Botanical Literature
Introduction of Binomial Nomenclature	1753	Enlightenment	Carl Linnaeus introduces binomial nomenclature in “Species Plantarum,” standardizing plant naming conventions.	Taxonomy
Discovery of Plant Cell Structure	1665	Scientific Revolution	Robert Hooke observes plant cells under a microscope, coining the term “cell.”	Microscopy
Development of Plant Physiology	19th century	Industrial Revolution	Scientists like Julius Sachs and Joseph Priestley study plant functions, including photosynthesis and respiration.	Plant Physiology
Establishment of Botanical Gardens	16th–17th centuries	Early Modern Period	Botanical gardens are founded across Europe for research and education purposes.	Botanical Institutions
Publication of “Origin of Species”	1859	Victorian Era	Charles Darwin’s work introduces evolutionary theory, impacting plant classification and understanding.	Evolutionary Biology
Discovery of Plant Hormones	Early 20th century	Modern Era	Researchers identify substances like auxins and gibberellins, elucidating plant growth regulation.	Plant Hormones
Advances in Plant Genetics	Mid-20th century	Modern Era	Gregor Mendel’s principles are applied to plant breeding, enhancing crop improvement.	Plant Genetics
Development of Molecular Biology Techniques	Late 20th century	Modern Era	Techniques like PCR and DNA sequencing revolutionize plant molecular research.	Molecular Biology
Completion of Plant Genome Projects	Early 21st century	Genomics Era	Sequencing of plant genomes, such as Arabidopsis thaliana, provides insights into plant biology.	Genomics
Rise of Synthetic Biology in Plants	21st century	Synthetic Biology Era	Engineering of plants for biofuel production and other applications emerges.	Synthetic Biology

Theophrastus'

Renaissance Revival of Botany

Establishment of Botanical Gardens

Publication of

Discovery of Plant Cell Structure

Introduction of Binomial Nomenclature

Development of Plant Physiology

Publication of

3 Events in 1900s

2 Events in 2000s

Dioscorides'

Pliny the Elder's

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