Final answer:
The Modern age was vital in microbiology development, marked by the Golden Age, with Pasteur and Koch's groundbreaking work on germ theory, pasteurization, and vaccines.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Modern age, particularly during the Golden Age of Microbiology, was crucial in the development of microbiology. Scientists like Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch made significant advancements. Pasteur disproved spontaneous generation with his experiments, developed pasteurization, and created vaccines for anthrax and rabies. Koch was pivotal in establishing the germ theory of disease, identifying specific microbes causing conditions like anthrax, cholera, and tuberculosis.
The use of pure cultures and systematic methodologies from this era are still fundamental in contemporary microbiological studies. These scientists not only forwarded the understanding of disease but also laid down the frameworks we use to diagnose and treat infections today. Their discoveries have had lasting impacts on public health, substantially reducing infectious disease mortality rates by the end of the 19th century.