Plato to Darwin to DNA: A Brief History

Introduction 
The Ancient Philosophers Set the Stage 
Ancient Cultures—Diverse Ideas 
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle—A Lasting Legacy 
Roman Influences—A Practical Approach  
When It Was Dark—Medieval Knowledge  
The Renaissance and Biology  
The 17th and 18th Centuries—Classification, Microscopes, and Fossils  
In the Light of Evolution—Biology Comes of Age in the 19th Century 
The Modern Synthesis and a World of DNA—Bringing It All Together  in the 20th Century and Beyond 
References & Suggested Readings