Final Answer:
During the scientific revolution of the 17th and 18th centuries, the advancement of botanical exploration and classification, driven by a growing interest in understanding and categorizing the natural world, most influenced people's desire to collect and breed plant specimens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scientific revolution marked a period of significant intellectual and cultural transformation. In the realm of botany, there was a surge of interest in understanding plant diversity, fueled by advancements in microscopy and taxonomy. Botanists sought to categorize and classify plant specimens systematically, leading to the establishment of botanical gardens and herbaria. The desire to collect and breed plant specimens was driven by a scientific curiosity to unravel the mysteries of the natural world, coupled with the belief that studying plants could provide insights into medicinal properties, economic uses, and broader ecological relationships.