Renaissance, Reformation, Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment

Background What did the Renaissance do? – The Renaissance sparked interest and curiosity about many things, allowing people to start to think for themselves – It began in Italy because people were not controlled by feudalism or the church; instead, wealthy families held power What did the Reformation question? – The Reformation led people to question and challenge the original views of God, the church, and salvation

The Reformation a German monk named Martin Luther began to criticize the church Posted his complaints on the door of his church This is the beginning of the reformation – an effort to reform, or improve, the Catholic Church

As a result… People created their own Christian churches, free of Roman Catholic control, these were called Protestant churches, because they grew out of protest against the Roman Catholic Church.

The Inquisition In an effort to wipe out beliefs that did not conform to church teachings, the church had Inquisitions. This was a church court that used secret testimonies and torture to force non-Catholics to convert to Catholicism. Scientists and thinkers who had new ideas also were subject to the Inquisitions.

At the same time as the Reformation… – Individuals began to challenge the way people viewed their place in the Universe. This became known as the Scientific Revolution.

Leaders of the Scientific Revolution

What was the Scientific Revolution? The Scientific Revolution was a new way of thinking about the natural world. Based on: – careful observation of nature – a willingness to question widely accepted beliefs – Reason Result: the expansion of scientific knowledge

How did they come up with these ideas? Scientific Method – Created by Aristotle – A logical procedure for gathering and testing ideas

Scientists of the Scientific Revolution Isaac Newton Nicolas Copernicus Johannes Kepler Galileo Galilei William Harvey Aristotle Rene Descartes

The Enlightenment What was the Enlightenment? – An intellectual movement where enlightenment thinkers tried to apply reason and scientific methods to the HUMAN world as well as to the rest of the natural world – People wanted to build a society around the ideas of the Scientific Revolution

Examples of Enlightenment Ideas Freedom of speech Separation of powers: government should be divided on different levels so that no one level has all the power – Example: England has a monarch and a Parliament Natural rights: life, liberty, property Freedom of religion

How did the movement spread? Salons—wealthy women and men would gather to discuss ideas Encyclopedias published many Enlightenment ideas Pamphlets and newspapers helped to spread the word about new ideas

Results of the Enlightenment Stimulated religious tolerance Helped to start democratic revolutions around the world Rise of individualism—thinking for yourself Rise of a more secular or worldly outlook