1. PEOPLE OF THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION AND ENLIGHTENMENT

2. Copernicus
Came up with the heliocentric theory = sun-centered conception of the universe
The planets revolve around the sun and the moon revolves around Earth
Daily rotation of Earth on its axis
First to create a complete model of the solar system using physics, astronomy, and mathematics
Previous belief: Aristotle and Ptolemy – geocentric (Earth-centered) conception of the universe, Earth is fixed, as is Heaven – belief since 150 AD

4. Kepler
Came up with a mathematical formula that supported/proved the Copernican theory
Stated that the orbits of planets are elliptical, with the sun at the end, not the center = Kepler’s Law
Planets orbit the sun in an oval pattern or ellipse

5. Galileo Built the first telescope and made regular observations
First to observe Saturn, the craters on the moon, sunspots, and the moons of Jupiter
Stated that the heavenly bodies were made of material substance – goes against the beliefs of the Church
Previous belief = Ptolemy – heavenly bodies were orbs of light

7. Sir Isaac Newton
Three laws of motion that govern the heavenly bodies and objects on Earth
Universal law of gravitation
Gravity affects objects in the universe as well as on Earth
Keeps the planets in their orbits
Universe seen as a regulated machine that worked according to natural laws
Developed calculus to predict the effects of gravity

8. Vesalius
Dissected human bodies and presented an accurate examination of individual organs and general structure of the human body
Hired artists to produce accurate drawings
Previous belief: Galen, a Greek physician from ancient times, used animals for dissection

9. Harvey Described how blood and the circulatory system functioned
Stated that the heart, not the liver, was the beginning point of blood circulation
Same blood flows in veins and arteries
Previous belief = Galen’s idea that two kinds of blood flowed in the veins and arteries with the liver as the starting point

10. Leeuwenhoek
Invented the microscope and was the first person to describe the appearance of bacteria, red blood cells, yeast, and other microorganisms
Robert Hooke used this microscope to look at plants and was to first to use the term cell

11. Boyle Called the father of modern chemistry
First chemist to define an element
Described matter as a cluster of tiny particles
Boyle’s Law = volume of gas varies with the amount of pressure exerted on it

12. Lavoisier Discovered the law of Conservation of Mass
Proved that matter could not be created or destroyed
Introduced the metric system of measurements
Invented the first periodic table, which included 33 elements
Invented the system of naming the chemical elements

13. Francis Bacon Invented the scientific method
Identify a problem and form a hypothesis to be tested
Perform experiments and record the results
Analyze the results to form a conclusion that either proves or disproves the hypothesis
Believed the only true way to gain scientific knowledge was through experimentation = observing, measuring, explaining, and verifying

15. Descartes Wrote about doubt and uncertainty of the 17th century
Father of modern rationalism = reason is the chief source of knowledge
Emphasis on reason
Believed everything should be doubted until it could be proven by reason
Doubt about existence – “I think, therefore I am”
Principle of the separation of mind and matter

16. Montesquieu Mistakenly interpreted Great Britain’s gov’t structure
The best form of gov’t included a separation of powers to prevent any individual or group from abusing its powers
Separation of powers = separate the powers of gov’t into branches, such as the executive, legislative, and judicial
System of checks and balances = the branches would limit and control each other

17. Voltaire
Believed in religious tolerance and criticized all organized religion, especially the Catholic Church
Felt that religion crushed the human spirit
Famous anti-religious quote “Crush that horrible thing”
Believed in deism, a religious philosophy based on reason and natural laws
God created the universe and then stepped back and let it run without his interference according to natural laws
Idea of a mechanic God

19. Diderot
Published a 28 volume Encyclopedia that spread the ideas of the Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution across Europe and to North America
Explained new ideas and its purpose was the promotion of knowledge

20. Rousseau
Believed that people were basically good and that society corrupted them
People adopted laws and gov’t to preserve their private property and in the process they had become enslaved by gov’t
First line of The Social Contract – “Man is born free but everywhere is in chains”
Believed that gov’t should work for the benefit of the common good
Social Contract – an entire society agrees to be governed by the general will
Individuals should give up some of their freedoms for the benefit of the community as a whole

22. Adam Smith The Wealth of Nations
Strong believer in laissez-faire = an economic system in which the gov’t should not interfere in economic matters or regulate the economy
If individuals were free to pursue their own economic self-interest, all of society would benefit
Economy would be stronger if the natural economic laws of supply and demand were allowed to work freely

23. Mary Wollstonecraft
Demanded equal rights for women and was the first to openly publish the ideas that women should be able to vote and hold public office
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

24. Beccaria
Punishments should not be excessive in brutality and he opposed capital punishment -he believed it did not stop others from committing crimes

25. John Wesley
Founder of Methodism, proved that not all need for spiritual experience had been eliminated