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HRBS- Global History Repeater– Mr. Oberhaus Unit 5 Section 1: Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment Aim: How did the Scientific Revolution lead to the Enlightenment?
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Big Ideas From the 1500s through the 1700s Europeans… o Experienced the Scientific Revolution, which caused people to change their views about the universe o Entered the Enlightenment, in which philosophers applied reason to society and government o Developed ideas about basic human rights and proper government o Began to consider democratic ideas and the concept of nationalism
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Scientific Revolution During the Middle Ages people believed that Earth was the center of the universe. Scientists began to question that idea and that led to the “Scientific Revolution” Nicolaus Copernicus: Used mathematical formulas to state that the sun was the center of the universe or heliocentric theory. Galileo Galilei: Advanced the heliocentric theory and constructed the first telescope. The church put Galileo on trial and faced with execution he recanted the heliocentric theory. In 1993, the Roman Catholic Church finally admitted that Galileo was correct. Isaac Newton: Discovered the law of gravity
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The Scientific Method During the 1600s, Scientists began to use experimentation and observation to come to new conclusions. This gave rise to the Scientific Method. 1. State the problem 2. Collect information about the problem 3. Form a hypothesis or educated guess 4. Experiment to test the hypothesis 5. Record and Analyze data 6. State a conclusion 7. Repeat steps 1 – 6 to verify
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Human Reasoning Rene Descartes believed that people had to use reason rather than tradition to discover the truth in the world. Reasoning is the process of thinking carefully about something in order to make a judgment. Descartes ideas would lead the way for major political and life changes in Europe during the 1700s. Scientists would use reason to discover Natural Laws or the laws that govern human behavior. Scientists believed that by using the scientific method they could solve societal problems.
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Thinkers of the Enlightenment John Locke: An English thinker during the late 1600s who believed that all people possessed Natural Rights- life, liberty, and property. If the government does not protect these rights the people have the right to overthrow it. Baron de Montesquieu: Believed government should be divided into three branches- legislative, executive, and judicial. The separation of powers would prevent tyranny because there would be a system of checks and balances. Voltaire: Believed in free speech Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Believed that people are naturally good but corrupted by the evils of society. Thomas Hobbes: Believed that people are naturally greedy and selfish. Only a powerful government can keep an orderly society.
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Impact of the Enlightenment As Enlightened ideas spread, governments began censoring those who spoke out in order to preserve traditions and retain power. Many writers including Voltaire were thrown in prison and books were banned and burned. Some Monarchs welcomed the Enlightened. They were known as Enlightened Despots or absolute rulers who used the enlightenment to reform society. Maria Theresa: Ruler of Austria forced nobles and the clergy to pay taxes in the 1700s. She also made education available to all children in her kingdom.
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Joseph II: The heir to the throne of Austria. Joseph continued and expanded his mother’s reforms. Joseph did the following in his kingdom- Chose officials based on talent not social status Updated the legal system Pushed religious toleration Ended censorship Freed the Serfs (those tied to the land) Catherine the Great of Russia: Rose to power in 1762, she corresponded with Montesquieu and Voltaire. She then sought the advice of nobles, peasants, and townspeople. She built schools and hospitals, promoted education. However, after peasants revolted against her; she crushed them and then ended all of her reforms.
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Democracy and Nationalism Enlightened ideas inspired a sense of individualism a belief in personal freedom and a sense of the basic equality of human beings Out the Enlightenment, Nationalism would grow and democracy would rise up. By the late 1700s, Enlightened ideas would lead to an age of revolution beginning with the American Revolution (War for Independence) and the French Revolution.
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