Scientific Revolution

Before the Revolution… Scholars relied on established authorities for the truth… Who were these established authorities??

Before the Revolution… Established authorities included: The Bible & early church writings The Catholic Church Aristotle & other Pagan philosophers

Pre-Revolution: Alchemists Early scientists who used spells & magic formulas Discovered much about nature

Pre-Revolution: Astrologers Studied the position of the stars & planets, as well as the way in which the positions of these bodies affected people’s lives Contributed to the body of information regarding the cosmos

New Beliefs Emerge Principle of Doubt: Nothing can be believed unless it has been proven through experimentation New instruments: Barometer, microscope, thermometer

Pre-Revolution: Geocentricity Earth as the center of the universe Planets & sun rotate around earth

Pre-Revolution: Geocentricity According to Church doctrine, God created the universe to serve his people; therefore, the people’s home must be the center of the universe

New Theory: Heliocentricity Sun as the center of the universe Planets rotate around it

Nicolaus Copernicus Polish astronomer Wrote On the Revolution of Heavenly Spheres

Nicolaus Copernicus Stated that Earth rotated on an axis & revolved around the sun Works were never published in Poland for fear of punishment by the church

Johannes Kepler German Astronomer & Mathematician

Johannes Kepler Stated that the planets move in an oval-shaped path (ellipses) Used mathematics to prove the heliocentric theory

Galileo Galilee Italian Mathematician Copernican theory Wrote Dialogue on Two Great World Systems

Galileo Galilee Established the universal laws of physics & the law of inertia (body in motion stays in motion)

Galileo Galilee Stood trial for heresy Due to the Inquisition Galileo was forced to recant his scientific position

Galileo’s Observations Sun Spots Earth rotates on its axis Rings on Saturn Moons of Jupiter

Galileo’s Observations Mountains & valleys of the moon Rate at which objects fall (32 feet per sec) minus the friction of air

Sir Isaac Newton English Scientist Discovered the law of universal gravitation Developed calculus

Sir Isaac Newton Wrote Mathematic Principles of Natural Science Precise mathematical formulas could describe an orderly universe

Conclusions The Scientific Revolution: Created an atmosphere of skepticism Emphasized the importance of evidence Impacted law, study of history, chronology & eventually philosophy