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The Augustinian order that Mendel joined was based on the teachings of Saint Augustine of Hippo (354–430 ce ), a Christian theologian who lived in the Roman Empire during the fourth and fifth centuries.

at the Brno Philosophical Institute. He had made an important collection of the Moravian flora. He died in 1843, so Mendel just missed his chance to study with him. But Thaler’s collection of living plants in the monastery’s botanic garden and the dried plants in the monastery’s herbarium were at Mendel’s disposal. Mendel described himself studying these plants and the monastery’s collection of local geological specimens: “His special liking for this field of natural science deepened the more he had the opportunity to become familiar with it.” Meanwhile his formal studies continued. In his first year, he attended, “with much liking and devotion,” classes on church history, archaeology, and Hebrew. The problems of existence seemed solved and he “regained his courage and strength.”

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