Aim: Identify circumstances that led to the Scientific Revolution

The Roots of Modern Science Before 1500, Few European scholars challenged the scientific ideas of the ancient thinkers or the church Medieval View During Middle Ages, most scholars believed that the earth was an immovable object located at center of universe Earth-centered view of the universe was called the Geocentric Theory Idea came from Aristotle Christianity taught that God had deliberately placed the earth at center of Universe Mid-1500’s: Scholars develop new theories Referred to as the Scientific Revolution Based on observations and questionings 2

Revolutionary Model of the Universe Early challenge to accept scientific thinking came in the field of astronomy The Heliocentric Theory Geocentric theory did not accurately explain the movements of the sun Problem troubled astronomer Nicholas Copernicus Copernicus reasoned that stars and planets revolved around the sun Knew that clergy would reject theory Didn’t publish findings until 1543 1601: Johannes Kepler concluded that mathematical laws governed planetary movement Laws showed that planets revolve around the sun in elliptical orbits instead of circles 3

Conflicts with the Church 1609: Galileo built telescope to study heavens Noted that earth’s moon had rough uneven surface Galileo’s findings frightened Church leaders Logic in fear: If people thought Church was wrong in this, they would question other things 1616: Church warned Galileo not to defend Copernicus ideas 1632: Galileo published book that presents ideas of Copernicus & Ptolemy Pope summoned Galileo to Rome to stand trial 1633: Galileo signed confession Stated that Copernicus’s theory was wrong 4