Final answer:
Linnaeus' taxonomy, developed by Carolus Linnaeus in the 18th century, was one of the first comprehensive classification systems for plants and animals, introducing the hierarchical structure and binomial naming system used in modern taxonomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Linnaeus' taxonomy of plants and animals in the 18th century was one of the first comprehensive classification systems. Carolus Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist, zoologist, and physician, developed the Linnaean classification system which is the foundation of modern taxonomy. This system uses a hierarchical structure to organize living organisms into groups based on shared characteristics, starting from three large categories called domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. Within each domain, organisms are further classified into kingdoms, and then into more specific categories: phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.
Additionally, Linnaeus introduced the binomial naming system, which assigns each species a unique two-part name comprising the genus name and the species name. This system is adopted worldwide, ensuring consistency in the naming of organisms. For instance, humans are classified as Homo sapiens, while the North American blue jay is Cyanocitta cristata.
The hierarchical taxonomic system, devised by Linnaeus, originally divided the natural world into the kingdoms of animal, plant, and mineral. This system has been pivotal in the way modern science classifies and understands the diversity of life on Earth.