How did increasing travel and exploration, and the public fascination with fossils, influence attitudes toward the idea of evolution?
In Europe, people were getting to see animals that resembled humans. Before that, only travelers or explorers had seen such exotic animals. These animals were being shown to the masses. Could now humans still think of themselves as superior, maybe not.
The explorers also found fossils of animals that were not present at that time. These fossils were of the animals that had long lived on the earth, and then disappeared. Such facts made scientists as well as layperson keen towards collection of fossil.
In 18th century Britain, collecting fossil was equivalent to taste and knowledge alike. The possession of fossils was considered elite because of the mystery behind them, also the rarity added to its charm.
To people, it raised the question of the origin of mankind. To a scientist, it intrigued them that life forms were subjected to change and modification. It was thought that old life forms died and were replaced by newer forms which were more compatible with the environment. It was now becoming common knowledge that life was still in the process of evolution.