This study focuses on the life and work of the sixteenth-century botanist Carolus Clusius in the context of court culture. Before accepting a position at the university in Leiden at the age of 67,... Show moreThis study focuses on the life and work of the sixteenth-century botanist Carolus Clusius in the context of court culture. Before accepting a position at the university in Leiden at the age of 67, Clusius spent a large part of his career at the courts of emperors, princes and aristocrats in Middle-Europe. There he met a wealthy and well-educated elite, who shared his passion for plants, gardens and travelling. But he also encountered a rich diversity of interests and approaches regarding the study of plants. These differences were used by Clusius to establish his authority as a professional botanist and to determine the standards for the proper scientific study of plants. Show less
