зодиак тела человека

Gerbi, Antonello. Nature in the New World: From Christopher Columbus to Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo. Translated by Jeremy Moyle. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1985.

Ogilvie, Brian W. The Science of Describing: Natural History in Renaissance Europe. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2006.

Smith, Pamela H. and Paula Findlen, eds. Merchants and Marvels: Commerce, Science, and Art in Early Modern Europe. New York: Routledge, 2002.

Daston, Lorraine and Katharine Park. Wonders and the Order of Nature, 1150-1750. New York: Zone Books, 1998.

Gesner, Konrad. Historiae animaliumвІV (Zurich, 1551) вІ excerpted at

Pliny the Elder. Natural History. Edited by John Bostock, 1855. Specifically Book VIII (“The Nature of the Terrestrial Animals”) вІ available at

Many physicians took astrological notions into account as part of their medical practice, for example, scheduling certain procedures only when the planets were properly aligned. For some, like Paracelsus (1493-1541), the connection between humanity and the surrounding world was absolutely central to the practice of medicine.

In many esoteric philosophies, humanity and the wider universe were seen as inextricably connectedвІ the one could have tremendous impact on the other. This notion was the cornerstone of astrology, which examined the links between human life and the motions of the heavens.

The voyages of discovery exposed Renaissance thinkers to a wide range of new and unusual plants and animals.

Slowly, however, the authority of ancient texts was replaced by the authority of observation and direct contact with nature.

In the early Renaissance, authority and credibility were derived from the testimony of ancient authors, many of whom reported the existence of creatures such as unicorns and basilisks.

“Three times a week they went out to the greenhouses behind the castle to study HerbologyвІVwhere they learned how to take care of all the strange plants and fungi, and found out what they were used for.вІ         вІ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, J. K. Rowling

“I have noticed a relationship between science and natural philosophyвІVthose writings interest me the most which deal with minerals, plants, and animals.”          вІ Konrad Gesner, Historiae Animalium, 1551

Thus, for many in this period, a variety of intimate connections existed between humanity and nature. The world was full of an astonishing array of strange and marvelous things, the formation and behavior of which were often dictated by the movements of the heavens. The result was a seamless conception of nature that inspired some of the most innovative intellectual changes in Western history.

At the same time, the universe of Renaissance thinkers extended well beyond animals and plants: a mainstay of many philosophies was the connection between the individual and the surrounding cosmos. The individual was often seen as a microcosm, a miniature reflection of the universe or macrocosm, and the one could have a tremendous influence on the other. Astrology taught that the motions and properties of the planets directly affected life on Earth, influencing everything from behavior to health.

In the Harry Potter novels, we encounter a range of exotic flora and fauna, from unicorns and dragons to and merpeople. The existence of such things is taken for granted by those inhabiting J. K. Rowling's magical world, but the same was also true of many Renaissance naturalists. Much of what they knew confirmed this belief: unicorns and had been described and discussed from antiquity, the fatal cry of the mandrake was widely reported, and the bodies of several presumed dragons were found and displayed in 17-century collections of naturalia. The voyages of discovery to the New World brought to light even stranger animals and plants, and many thousands of specimens were shipped back to Europe to fill museums, laboratories, and princely courts.

    Unit 1        

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Harry Potter's World Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine - Unit 1 - Investigating Nature