Alchemy

Alchemy was a protoscientific tradition that continued into the 17th century. Key goals of alchemy were the transmutation of common metals into more valuable metals, creation of a material that was capable of curing disease, and discovery of an elixir of immortality. The two latter ideas eventually led to the idea of achieving a more perfect life through separation of the soul and creation of a more perfect body. The creatures of early experimentation were created using mostly alchemical science.