Why is Darwinian evolution referred to as The Great Synthesis?

Answer 1

Darwin's work is referred to as The Great Synthesis because, to build his theory of evolution, Darwin used ideas from other scientists such as Malthus, Lyell, Lamarck, Mendel, Linnaeus, (and probably a few others that I'm forgetting... that geology guy that talked about gradualism?). Anyway, Darwin stands apart from these men because he managed to compile a ton of evidence supporting his hypotheses, and created a coherent theory! So, it's a "synthesis" because he brought lots of facts and ideas together to make his most famous book, "On the Origin of Species."

Answer 2

Darwinian evolution is referred to as The Great Synthesis because Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection helped unify disparate fields such as Biology, geology, and Paleontology under a common framework. It integrated various observations and evidence to provide a coherent explanation for the diversity of life on Earth, bridging gaps between different branches of science. This synthesis revolutionized our understanding of how species evolve and adapt over time.