Final answer:
In Darwin's day, the traditional view of species was that they were static and unchanging. Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection challenged this view and revolutionized biology.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Darwin's day, the traditional view of species was that they were static and unchanging. Most people believed that all species were created at the same time and remained unchanged thereafter. This view was grounded in the writings of Plato and was supported by the belief that Earth was only about 6,000 years old. However, there were also ancient Greeks who expressed evolutionary ideas, suggesting that not everyone held this traditional view. Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, published in 1859, challenged the traditional view and revolutionized biology.