Natural history in the Indian subcontinent has a long heritage with a recorded history going back to the Vedic era. Natural history research in early times included the broad fields of palaeontology, zoology and botany. These studies would today be considered under field of ecology but in former times, such research was undertaken mainly by amateurs, often physicians, civil servants and army officers.
Although the growth of modern natural history in India can be attributed to British colonialism and the growth of natural history in Britain, there is considerable evidence to suggest that India with its diverse landscapes, fauna and flora along with other tropical colonies helped in creating an increased interest in natural history in Britain and elsewhere in the world.[1] Natural history in India was also enriched by older traditions of conservation, folklore, nature study and the arts.[2]
- ^ Schiebinger, Londa and Claudia Swan (Eds.) 2004 Colonial Botany Science, Commerce, and Politics in the Early Modern World. 352 pages. University of Pennsylvania
- ^ Archer, Mildred & W.G. Archer (1955) Natural history paintings. In Indian painting for the British 1770–1880, pp. 91–98. Oxford, Oxford University Press.