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Enlightenment and Revolution 1550-1789
The Scientific Revolution
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Age of Reason The Renaissance inspired curiosity in many areas- Scholars began to question ideas that had been accepted for hundreds of years During the Reformation, religious leaders challenged accepted ways of thinking about God and salvation. During the Middle Ages, most scholars believed that the earth was an unmoving object located at the center of the universe. According to the belief, all of the planets and sun revolved around the earth. The people believed this theory because the sun did appear to “rotate” around the earth-
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The earth-centered theory called the geocentric theory was proposed by Aristotle and expanded by Ptolemy. The Scientific Revolution was a new way of thinking about the natural world. It was based on observation and willingness to question accepted beliefs. Nicolaus Copernicus developed a new theory known as the heliocentric theory or the idea that the sun is the center of the universe. His book was known as the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies and it was published while he was on his deathbed.
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Heliocentric Theory-Copernicus
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Model of the Universe Johannes Kepler continued Copernicus’ work and he concluded that some mathematical laws agree with the heliocentric theory. Galileo discovered the law of the pendulum or the idea that each swing of the pendulum took exactly the same amount of time. Galileo discovered that falling objects accelerates at a fixed and predictable rate. All objects fall at the same speed. A telescope is an object that visually enlarges objects that are located off in the distance, The Starry Messenger is a collection of Galileo’s observations. He announced in the journal that Jupiter had four moons and the moon had rough spots.
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Johannes Kepler First Law- Elliptical orbit
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Conflict with the Church
The Catholic Church did not agree with Galileo’s new ideas because they went against church teachings and authority. If the people realized the church could be wrong, then they could lose their power over the people. Galileo forced to renounce his support for the heliocentric theory. What would you have done???
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Galileo Galilei Law of the Pendulum
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Scientific Method The steps of the Scientific Method are:
1. a problem that needs to be solved 2. hypothesis 3. Experiment 4. analyze data 5. conclusion Go back to #2
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Development of the Scientific Method
Francis Bacon had an interest in science because he thought scientists could generate information that would improve society. He criticized medieval scholars for relying on the thoughts of individuals based on abstract theories rather than on facts. Descartes believed that scientists needed to reject old assumptions and teachings, and use mathematics and logic He was only sure of himself--- “I think therefore I am”
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Sir Isaac Newton He created the theory of motion—the idea of universal gravitation. He believed God was responsible for all things-and that all things worked together and the laws of how things worked could be described mathematically. He wrote “Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy”- Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica- Greatest Science Book
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Isaac Newton
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Scientific Revolution Spreads
Janssen created the first microscope. Leeuwenhoek observed that insects don’t occur spontaneously. Torricelli developed the first mercury barometer, a tool to measure atmospheric pressure. Fahrenheit created the first mercury thermometer and he discovered water froze at 32 degrees. Celsius created his own mercury thermometer and he showed freezing at 0 degrees.
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Medicine/Chemistry Galen dissected pigs and other animals. He believed the remains of animals were similar to human beings. Vesalius dissected human bodies and he published his findings on the human body in On the Fabric of the Human Body. Edward Jenner- discovered a vaccine for smallpox Harvey discovered the heart worked like a pump to circulate blood throughout the human body. Boyle challenged the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. He believed that matter was made up of smaller primary particles that joined together in different ways.
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Smallpox
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Renaissance discovery of new classical manuscripts leads scholars to question accepted knowledge.
Exploration broadens European horizons. Printing press spreads ideas Discoveries of Copernicus and other scientists challenge accepted thinking.
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The Enlightenment in Europe
The scientific revolution led to the Age of Reason or Enlightenment in the mid-1700s. Hobbes and Locke, started this age of reasoning by proposing new theories on politics.
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Hobbes Hobbes believed that people were naturally evil. He believed the only way for a government to survive was through giving up their rights to a strong leader. He called this the social contract because people would agree to give up their rights for order and peace. His ideal form of government was an absolute monarchy. Wrote: Leviathan
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John Locke Locke believed in people. He thought people could learn from their mistakes and improve themselves. He believed that people could govern themselves. He believed people were born with three natural rights: LIFE, LIBERTY, PROPERTY. Locke believed the government had a responsibility to protect these rights—if they didn’t protect these rights the people had a right/responsibility to overthrow the government. His ideas were the basis for many countries rebelling against their imperial countries.
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Philosophes Advocate Reason
Philosophes were French philosophers of the time. They believed that people could apply reason to all aspects of life. They believed 5 things were at the core of their philosophy: reason, nature, happiness, progress, and liberty.
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Enlightenment Ideas Voltaire was a French philosophe who believed in tolerance, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and human reason. Montesquieu believed in separation of powers and the idea of checks and balances. Both Voltaire and Montesquieu believed in the Constitutional Monarchy that existed in England (Executive, Legislative and Judicial)
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Rousseau, Voltaire, Montesquieu
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Jean Jacques Rousseau Rousseau believed that people are born free, but are imprisoned by their controlling governments. He believed that the only good government was one freely formed by the people and guided by the general will of society. He believed in a social contract where the people came together to create a society and government. He believed in a broader democracy than Locke—He believed all people were equal and nobility should be ended. Rousseau influenced the French to rebel against nobility.
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Beccaria believed that abuses of justice needed to end
Beccaria believed that abuses of justice needed to end. He believed in people accused of a crime should receive a speedy trial and torture should never be used. He believed capital punishment should be abolished. Mary Wollstonecraft wrote, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. She believed women needed to be educated. She felt women should be included in government and in all professions. Her daughter, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley wrote Frankenstein.
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Impact of the Enlightenment
Inspired French and American Revolutions Belief in Progress: They pushed to end slavery, Social Equality and improvements in education were discussed. The world was viewed more secularly---religion would not have as much of an impact on society. Individualism and self-realism were encouraged.
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