The Scientific Revolution began during the Renaissance as scholars rediscovered ancient Greek and Roman texts using newly invented printing presses. This led to new ideas and technologies like the telescope and microscope that allowed for more accurate observation and measurement. Figures like Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo and Newton developed new scientific theories like heliocentrism and the laws of planetary motion, rejecting the old geocentric model. Advances were also made in medicine by Vesalius, Harvey, Boyle and Lavoisier, establishing new understandings of anatomy and chemistry. Despite some resistance from the church, the rational scientific method became established as the dominant way of understanding the natural world.
3. Impact of the Renaissance Review: Rebirth of Antiquity Humanists mastered Latin and Greek Rediscovered classical works Ptolemy Archimedes Plato Aristotle Studying led to diverse ideas
4. Inventions/Developments Printing Press (Gutenberg) Literacy Spread of ideas Accurate Measurements Weights ships could carry Instruments Telescope Microscope Mathematics FranciosViete (French lawyer) Used of variables (letters)
5. Astronomy Geocentric Model Ptolemaic system Earth-centered Universe – concentric spheres Heliocentric model Copernicus’ system Sun-centered Universe – Elliptical orbits
6. Nicholas Copernicus Polish mathematician Born: May 1543 Publication On the Revolutions of Heavenly Spheres Heliocentric System Sun-centered Earth revolves and rotates
7. Johannes Kepler German mathematician Against Ptolemy Used detailed astronomical data Laws of Planetary Movement Confirmed sun-centered universe Elliptical Orbits of planets
8. Galileo Galilei Italian teacher of mathematics Telescope Inventor/developer Made regular observations of the heavens Discoveries Mountains on the moon 4 moons of Jupiter Sunspots Issues with the church** Cardinal Bellarmine Debate: Church teachings vs. Science
9. Sir Isaac Newton Most brilliant mind of the era United the works of Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo Background Born: 1642 in England Cambridge University scholar Mathematics professor Important Works Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy Principia Universal Law of Gravitation Explains planetary movement Motion of objects in the universe
10. Medicine Developments Antiquity Galen (100 AD) Greek physician Andres Vesalius Dissected human bodies Description of organs Detailed account on the body William Harvey Heart circulates blood, not the liver Blood cycle through veins
11. Chemistry Robert Boyle Chemistry experiments Boyle’s Law Property of gasses Volume varies based on pressure applied Antoine Lavoisier System for naming elements Founder of Modern Chemistry
12. Women’s Contributions Margaret Cavendish English aristocratic family Wrote on scientific matters Observations Upon Experimental Philosophy Published under her own name Maria Winkelmann German astronomer Discovered a comet Applied to ranking position After husband’s death Denied: lack of education and a woman
13. Philosophy and Reason Rene Descartes French philosopher Ideaology Uncertainty seemed to be everywhere “I think, therefor I am” certain Philosophy dominated Western thought Until the 20th century Rationalism Reason is the chief source of knowledge
14. Scientific Method Francis Bacon English philosopher Few scientific credentials Not a scientist “The true and lawful goal of the sciences is none other than this: that human life be endowed with new discoveries and power.” Scientific Method Systematic procedure for collecting and analyzing evidence Major element of modern science Inductive reasoning Particular General thinking