Scientific Revolution
Megan C. 5th Period
What was the change?
A major change in European thought, starting in the mid-1500s, in which the study of the natural world began to be characterized by careful observation and the questioning of accepted beliefs.
Who were the people associated with the change?
Nicolaus Copernicus
He was a Polish cleric and astronomer. Copernicus discovered heliocentric theory which was that the stars, the earth, and the other planets revolved around the sun.
Galileo Galilei
In 1609 Galileo built a telescope and used it to study the heavens. He wrote a book called "Starry Messenger" which described his observations. He stated that Jupiter had four moons and that the sun has dark spots. He also stated the earth's moon had a rough, uneven surface.
Isaac Newton
His great discovery was that the same force ruled motion of the planets and all matter on earth and in space. In 1687 Newton published one of the most important scientific books ever writing, "The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy".
How did the change impact society at the time?
Galileo's findings frightened the church leaders because his findings were against church teachings and authority. The scientific method was developed and was a logical procedure for gathering and testing ideas. Isaac Newton believed that God was the creater of the orderly universe the clock maker who had set everything in motion.
How is that change evidenced in today's modern society?
The foundation principles of the scientific revolution are still used today. The scientific method is used by educators to teach new generations of scientists how to continue exploring medicine, chemistry, physics, and many new scientific areas. Basic scientific laws like Newton's "Law of Universal Gravitation" still hold true today and are used as mankind continues to explore the boundaries of the universe.