1. Chapter 15.2: Scientific Revolution
EQ’s:
Who were the famous philosophers and scientists of the Scientific Revolution and what new theories/methods and inventions did they create?
What was the impact of scientific rationalism on the Church and on political thought?

2. Q1: Scientific Revolution
Scientific Revolution = Period of time in 1500’s when people questioned accepted views of the world

3. Q2: Geocentric Theory
Aristotle ( BC) theorized Earth was center of universe
Geocentric Theory = Earth is center of universe (Sun and other planets all revolve around Earth)
500 yrs later an astronomer, Ptolemy (TAHL*uh*mee), agreed with and expanded on Aristotle’s views
Claimed moon and stars move in small orbits of their own – while also revolving in bigger orbit around Earth

4. Q3: Heliocentric Theory
In 1500s Nicolaus Copernicus challenged Ptolemy’s geocentric theory
Copernicus reasoned stars, Earth, and other planets revolved around the sun, which did not move
Heliocentric Theory = Sun is the center of the universe (planets revolve around the Sun)

6. Different Theories

7. Q4: Kepler German man, Johannes Kepler, studied Copernicus’ theory
Kepler realized planet’s orbit around Sun was an oval, not a circle
Kepler able to prefect mathematical laws describing movements of planets around Sun

9. Heliocentric Theory

10. Theories of the Universe Believed Heliocentric
Ptolemy
Copernicus
Kepler
Theory was built
off Aristotle’s
Believed the Earth
was the
center of the
universe.
Believed the sun was the
Center of the universe.
HELIOCENTRIC
Believed Heliocentric
Theory
He believed the
planets orbited
In an oval
shape method.
Geocentric Theory

11. FOR YOUR INFORMATION: Believing the New Theory
There had been two major sources of European thinking about the natural world for 100’s of years:
God/Bible
Aristotle (Greek philosopher)
After so many years of believing geocentric theory as truth and the position of the church it was hard for people to accept Copernicus/Kepler’s discoveries at first
Aristotle

12. Q5: Galileo Galileo studied Copernicus’ theories
Invented telescope able to look at stars more closely
Galileo believed scientific thought should be based on observation and experimentation

13. FOR YOUR INFORMATION: More on Galileo
Challenged idea heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones
Conducted experiments to show it doesn’t matter what weight of object is, all objects fall at same speed
Galileo

14. Galileo

15. Q6: Newton
English scientist Isaac Newton combined ideas of Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo into 1 theory
All physical objects affected by same force – gravity
Newton called his theory the Universal Gravitation Theory
Newton, like Galileo, believed observation and experimentation was significant in scientific thought
Isaac Newton

16. FOR YOUR INFORMATION: More On Newton
Isaac came up with his Universal Gravitation Theory while sitting under an apple tree and watched an apple fall from the tree
Also famous for hypothesizing about light and how it works

17. Newton

18. Q7: The Microscope Zacharias Janssen invented microscope in 1590
Invention of microscope enabled scientist Anton van Leeuwenhoek to discover bacteria

19. Q8: The Thermometer Thermometer measures temperature changes
First invented by Galileo, later improved by scientist named Farenheit to mercury thermometer we still use today

20. Q9: The Barometer Invented in 1643
Barometer is an instrument used to measure air pressure
Helps to predict the weather

21. Q10: Bacon and Descartes
Bacon and Descartes - famous 1600s scientists & philosophers with important views on problem-solving
Descartes emphasized use of reason – believing every idea should be doubted until proved through reason
Bacon urged experimentation to discover knowledge not just reason

22. Q11: Bacon’s Scientific Method
Bacon believed scientists should use experiments and observation
Came up with approach to do this called scientific method
1. Observing and describe subject
2. Form hypothesis
3. Test hypothesis in experiment
4. Interpret results to draw conclusion
Sir Francis Bacon

24. Q12: Impact of Scientific Rationalism
Scientific Rationalism = Ideas of Descartes and Bacon (Experiment and Reason)
Scientific Rationalism lead to decreased power in Church as people begin to believe in ability to think for themselves
Scientific Rationalism affects political thought as some political thinkers begin to look for new forms of government

25. Summary Write a 12 to 15 sentence summary on answering the EQ’s
Remember the EQ’s are:
Who were the famous philosophers and scientists of the Scientific Revolution and what new theories/methods and inventions did they create?
What was the impact of scientific rationalism on the Church and on political thought?
Note: To receive full credit you must discuss both Heliocentric and Geocentric theories as part of your answer for question 1!!!