{"product_id":"kingdoms-empires-and-domains-mark-a-ragan-9780197643037","title":"Kingdoms, Empires, and Domains: The History of High-Level Biological Classification","description":"A generation or two before Socrates, thinkers classified the world's organisms into three categories: plants, animals, and man. However, Aristotle recognized that some organisms, such as sponges and sea-fans, share properties of both plants and animals. These became known as \u003cem\u003ezoophytes\u003c\/em\u003e. Since then, scientists have explored the idea of a \"third kingdom.\" In \u003cem\u003eKingdoms, Empires, and Domains\u003c\/em\u003e, leading molecular systematist Mark A. Ragan offers a history of the idea that there is more to the living world than plants and animals. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eProgressing chronologically through philosophical, religious, literary, and other pre-scientific traditions, Ragan traces how transgressive creatures such as sponges, corals, algae, fungi, and diverse microscopic beings have been described, categorized, and understood throughout history. The book considers their appearance in early Christian, Islamic, and Jewish traditions; myths, legends, and traveller's tales; occult literature; and more. \u003cem\u003eKingdoms, Empires, and Domains\u003c\/em\u003e also details how the concept of a \"third kingdom\" has evolved throughout the history of scientific botany and zoology, and continues to evolve up to the present day. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cem\u003eKingdoms, Empires, and Domains\u003c\/em\u003e features original translations of passages from key historical texts, many of which have never appeared in English before. It also draws on the most recent and reliable scientific literature. A sweeping, interdisciplinary study, \u003cem\u003eKingdoms, Empires, and Domains\u003c\/em\u003e is essential reading for students and scholars of the history of biological classification and anyone interested in the history of ideas about the natural world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Mark A. Ragan\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0197643035\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780197643037\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/28\/2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 856\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 3.71lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 10.07h x 7.40w x 1.81d","brand":"Mark A. Ragan","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48216436113663,"sku":"9780197643037","price":175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_7be5e736-2f17-44c7-9c3d-e62425dc9b23.jpg?v=1771990993","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/kingdoms-empires-and-domains-mark-a-ragan-9780197643037","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}