The student
By Sebastian Olden-Jørgensen When he left Vor Frue grammar school Niels Steensen studied medicine 1656-69 at the University of Copenhagen under the famous anatomist Thomas Bartholin (1616-80). Bartholin had published a widely-used handbook in anatomy, and was internationally renowned for…
Studies abroad 1660-64
By Sebastian Olden-Jørgensen When the siege was lifted Niels Steensen went abroad to study in the Netherlands 1660-64. Niels Steensen’s skill at dissecting, his anatomical observations, publications and scientific debate quickly earned him a name in the world of science….
Continued studies in France and Italy
By Sebastian Olden-Jørgensen Niels Steensen’s first stop was Paris where he quickly became part of the circle around the prominent academician, Melchisédec Thévenot (1620-95). Steensen demonstrated his anatomical discoveries with great success in Paris, and while he was there the…
Cartesianism
By Sebastian Olden-Jørgensen During his studies in the Netherlands, Steensen had come into contact with a philosophical trend which influenced him deeply. This was Cartesianism, named after the great French philosopher, René Descartes (1596-1650). Descartes plays a critical role in…
