CHAPTER XII. 



SUMMARY OF FOUR CENTURIES OF SCIENCE. 



THE preceding survey, by its arrangement, presents the 

 progress of each branch without a break, the author wishing 

 by that means to convey an idea of the accelerated pace 

 at which the scientific march has been proceeding. But 

 as a pause at the end of any historical period, for the 

 purpose of viewing its striking features at a glance, would 

 help the reader to get a clear impression of the distinct 

 characters of the modern era, the writer will now briefly 

 point out the separate nature of each century since the 

 beginning of the Revival. 



I. Foundation. The XVIth century has several strongly 

 marked characteristics. I. It was essentially an age of PAR- 

 TURITION. It was during that century that many branches 

 of science came into existence, as we have shown (Chapters 

 V. and IX.) the work done in some of them being exceed- 

 ingly important. This certainly was the case in astronomy, 

 physics, geography, anatomy, and natural history. When 

 we consider the magnitude of the discoveries made by the 

 navigators, and chiefly Magellan, early in the century ; 

 then by the astronomers, and chiefly by Copernicus and 

 Tycho Brahe ; then by the physicists, and chiefly by Galileo 

 and Porta; then by the anatomists and naturalists, chiefly 

 Gesner, Csesalpinus, Paracelsus, and Vesalius, we at once 

 feel that we are witnessing an intellectual revolution un- 

 surpassed in its effects in the history of civilisation. 2. 

 The second character of the XVIth century is not less 



