The Scientific Revolution Medieval View of the World

The Scientific Revolution

Medieval View of the World • Earth was an unmoving object • Moon, sun, planets all revolved in perfect circles around the earth • geocentric theory (Aristotle and Ptolemy ‘confirmed’ this) • Christianity taught that God deliberately placed earth at the center and that God/heaven was in a specific place in the universe God/Heaven

The Scientific Revolution began when… the geocentric model (earth-centered theory) was questioned by leading astronomers. Hmmmm…. I don’t think that theory is correct!

So why did people start to question things? • Renaissance -Rejection/questioning of traditional ideas and ‘rebirth’ and re-learning of ancient texts (Greek and Roman) • Age of Exploration -they had a better understanding of the world

So what was the Scientific Revolution? • It was a new way of thinking about the natural world • It was based on careful observation • It spurred a willingness to question accepted beliefs • It was shunned by the Catholic Church

Nicolaus Copernicus • Polish astronomer • Disputed the validity of the geocentric theory and supported the heliocentric theory • Feared ridicule and persecution for contradicting religious views • Published findings right before he died -- On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies I’m right and you’re wrong!!!!!!

Heliocentric model (sun-centered theory) So why do you think the heliocentric theory upset the Church so much?

Johannes Kepler By gosh -Copernicus was 99% right! • Concluded that certain mathematical laws govern planetary motion • Discoverd elliptical orbits of planets • Laws showed that Copernicus ideas were mathematically correct

Galileo Galilei • Falling objects fall at a fixed and predictable rate (tested at the Leaning Tower of Pisa) • Improved the telescope to study the skies -- discovered 4 moons of Jupiter • Supported Copernicus in Starry Messenger • Found guilty of going against the teachings of the church (heresy) - Placed on house arrest until his death • His books and ideas spread throughout Europe

Isaac Newton • Wrote Mathematical principles of Natural Philosophy (aka the Principia) • Explained the 3 laws of motion that govern the universe • Universal law of gravitation -- all objects in the universe attract all other objects • Discovered gravity as a force

Galen I did the best that I could with the information that I had -- don’t hate on me!! • Greek doctor whose ideas dominated medicine • Was wrong in many instances – relied on information about animals and tried to apply them to humans

Andreas Vesalius • Dissected humans to accurately describe human anatomy William Harvey • Showed the heart acted as a pump to circulate blood throughout the body

Blaise Pascal • Pascal’s Law – how liquids behaved under pressure • Developed syringe and hydraulic press Robert Boyle • One of the 1 st scientists to conduct experiments in chemistry • Boyle’s Law – gas, pressure, blah ; -) Antoine Lavoisier • Invented system of naming elements • ‘founder’ of modern chemistry

Women in the Scientific Revolution Margaret Cavendish • philosopher • Observations Upon Experimental Philosophy: book that criticized the growing belief that human were now masters of nature because of science Maria Winkelmann • Accomplished astronomer • Discovered a comet **Both women’s work was not completely accepted because they were women

Rene Descartes • Developed analytical geometry (algebra + geometry) • Relied on mathematics and logic • Everything should be doubted until proven by reason

Francis Bacon • Urged scientists to experiment and to use inductive reasoning • Helped to develop the experimental (scientific method)

Effects of the Scientific Revolution • Sun centered solar system became widely accepted • Improvements in medicine • Invention of scientific instruments • Disproved MANY of Aristotle’s and other Greek teachings • Questioning traditional teachings of the Catholic Church