Darwin's Theory of Evolution E-Book

50MINUTES

• Herausgeber: 50Minutes.com
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Serie: History
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 33

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Beschreibung

Keen to learn but short on time? Get to grips with the essential points of Darwin’s theory of evolution in next to no time with this concise guide.

50Minutes.com provides a clear and engaging analysis of Darwin’s theory of evolution. After setting sail aboard the Beagle to carry out a scientific expedition, Charles Darwin made some surprising discoveries: using the example of finches on the Galapagos Islands, he concluded that each of the 13 species he found must have evolved from one common ancestor and adapted to best suit their environment. This led to him developing his theory of evolution and identifying natural selection as the cause, both of which are explained in his world-famous On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.

In just 50 minutes you will:
   • Understand the context in which Darwin published his theory and the source of the many controversies surrounding it
   • Learn more about Darwin’s life and career and how it led him to his astounding discovery
   • Analyse the progression of Darwin’s work, including his travels, discoveries and the final publication of his theory after 20 years of development

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Leseprobe

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution

Key information

When: 24 November 1859Where: LondonContext: The scientific debate on the origin of species in the 19th centuryContributors:Charles Darwin, British naturalist (1809-1882)Alfred Russel Wallace, British traveler and naturalist (1823-1913)Impact:New conception of the origin of species in natural historyCreation of Darwinism

On 24 November 1859, the book entitled On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life first appeared. The book, which has been reprinted several times and translated into many languages, upset public opinion in the 19th century. Its author, Charles Darwin, asserted that all species that inhabit the Earth are the result of a slow evolution and that they continue to evolve in a desperate struggle for survival. But are these species not immutable beings, living in a bountiful nature according to the will of God? The gap between these two ideas is striking.

It took many years for Charles Darwin to transcribe his thoughts and his theory. Fascinated by the natural sciences, it was primarily his trip as a naturalist aboard the Beagle which laid the foundations for his revolutionary ideas. After departing in December 1831, the ship returned to England in October 1836. During these five years, the young scientist took the opportunity to collect and study a multitude of animal and plant species. He also underwent a series of experiences that changed his view of nature forever.

Upon his return, Charles Darwin collected his thoughts. In 1839, he came to the conclusion that the species undergo changes, allowing for an evolution by natural selection in the struggle for survival. Eaten away by anxiety at facing the consequences that such a scientific disruption could cause, Darwin took twenty years to complete his work, trying to provide answers for those who would contest it, and forever marked the history of the world.

Political, economic and social context

Britain all over the world

The 19th century was undoubtedly the era of Britain. Indeed, the country that saw the birth of Charles Darwin was at its peak. Although its rise in power had been developing for many decades, it accelerated particularly in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Britain was the first to enter the industrial revolution of iron, coal and the steam engine, giving it the opportunity to get ahead of all other nations. Industry then considerably developed the British economy, and Britain exported more and more goods, to the point of becoming the world’s largest economy.

Another factor that also marks the importance of 19th century Britain is the significance of its territories. At the end of the previous century, when the country lost its American colonies following the War of Independence (1775-1783), it nevertheless still possessed Canada and many territories in the Caribbean. Strengthening the power of its navy, Britain inexorably continued its territorial conquests. Many expeditions allowed it to take possession of Australia, New Zealand, and many islands in the Pacific. In addition, India, which had been so coveted by all the European countries, was gradually conquered by the British between 1757 and 1858, when the territory definitively passed under the authority of the Crown. Finally, Africa was the subject of a fierce struggle among the European powers in the second half of the 19th century. There, Britain carved a true empire for itself, with colonies extending from Cairo to Cape Town.