Age of Enlightenment

1688-1789 Reasons for Revolution Situated the authority of government on earth, not in heaven Rejects the theory of ‘divine right of kings’ in favor of theory that government received its powers from the consent of the people Creation of effective bureaucracy to administer the affairs of the government Principle of merit, not personal or hereditary connections Extended power over the state of people previously excluded Growth of business as private profit Revolution leaders able to promote their ideals to new areas Leads to wars of unknown degrees of military mobilization, geographical extent, and human destruction

The Scientific Revolution A community of scientists were created in the 17th century Four new qualities were added to the study of science: Mathematical formulations- quantifying and expressing relationships in nature in mathematical forms Empiricism- accepting the evidence of direct observation over theoretical and philosophical explanations Technological innovations in equipment- telescope and microscope Belief in the freedom of inquiry-follow findings and imagination regardless of opinion or doctrine

Nicholas Copernicus Sun centered universe Not an earth centered universe Caused many problems with the Catholic Church, which had adopted the earth centered universe as church doctrine Circular orbit of planets

Joannes Kepler Sun centered universe All planets orbit around the sun Planet orbits are ellipses not circles They moved at varying speeds depending on their position on the ellipse

Galileo Galilei Used the telescope to look at the sky The Milky Way- collection of stars Moons surface was irregular Moons light is reflection from sun Was able to prove through sight that the sun was in fact the center of the universe

Isaac Newton Studied calculus Optics- how lights passes through a prism Law of gravity Universal law of gravitation and inertia When something is set in motion it stays in motion in the same direction