Scientific Revolution
Nancy L. ~ 1st period
What was the change?
CAPTION: This image displays nature, which is part of the natural world.
The change was when medieval and religious ideas advanced to more realistic and scientific ideas from scientists. In other terms, the Scientific Revolution was a new way of thinking about the natural world. This was caused by a combination of new discoveries by scientists who challenged the Church's ideas of the natural world. This was the first time that the public or society stepped outside the boundaries of religious ideas and questioned the more realistic viewings of their universe. Since this was the first time stepping outside of their boundaries (scientists), they were usually ridiculed of their findings and viewed as psychotic people. Even so, they continued to fulfill their curiosity and later marked their importance in history. The Scientific Revolution was a period in which many theories and discoveries were concluded. In other words, it was the start of the new world for science.
CAPTION FOR VIDEO: The video below shows an overview of the Scientific Revolution.
Who were the people associated with the change?
Nicolaus Copernicus
CAPTION: This image displays Copernicus' heliocentric theory.
Nicolaus Copernicus was one of the many scientists who made history during the Scientific Revolution and who contributed to the Scientific Method. Copernicus was a Polish cleric, or a religious leader, a Renaissance mathematician and astronomer.
Copernicus is known for his sun-centered theory. This theory is known as the heliocentric theory. This theory was Copernicus' idea of the sun being placed at the center of the universe rather than the earth. In the early 1500s, Copernicus became interested in an aged Greek idea that the sun stood at the center of the universe, which led to his own findings and discoveries. After more than twenty-five years of studying planetary movements, he concluded that the stars, earth, and the other planets revolved around the sun.
His theory went against the original idea of the Catholic Church. The Catholic church believed that God intentionally placed the earth at the center of the universe. This theory was known as the geocentric theory.
Copernicus knew that society would reject his theory because they went against religious ideas, so he didn't publish his findings until 1543, the last year of his life since he feared of being ridiculed or persecuted. He received his published book, "On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies," on his deathbed.
Johannes Kepler
CAPTION: This image displays Kepler's planetary movement model.
Johannes Kepler was another one of the many scientists involved during the Scientific Revolution. He, like Nicolaus Copernicus, also contributed to the Scientific Method with his findings. Kepler was a brilliant mathematician who continued with Tycho Brahe's (Danish astronomer) recorded studies of planetary movement.
Kepler was known for concluding that certain mathematical laws govern or guide planetary motion. His laws demonstrated mathematically that the planets revolve around the sun. In addition, Kepler's laws proved or showed that Copernicus' basic ideas were true.
Galileo Galilei
CAPTION: This image displays Galileo and his telescope that he produced to observe the heavens.
Galileo Galilei was one of the most important people during the Scientific Revolution. He contributed to the Scientific Method alongside Copernicus and Kepler. Galileo was an Itaian scientist.
Galileo built his own telescope to observe the heavens after he learned that a Dutch lens maker built an instrument that could enlarge objects.
He made many discoveries as an astronomer, proving the religious ideas wrong, during his period. For instance, he concluded that Jupiter had four moons, the sun had dark spots, and Earth's moon had a rough and uneven surface. He then published all his outstanding observations and studies into a small book called, "Starry Messenger." Galileo's observations and laws of motion supported Copernicus' theories.
His discoveries frightened the Church (Catholic and Protestant leaders). Due to this, the Church warned Galileo to not defend Copernicus' theories. Even though he kept quiet from the public and continued with his studies, after he published his works, he was called forth to the court for trial. He kneeled there and lied by stating that Copernicus' ideas were false. He was no longer free and later under house arrest.
After his books spread throughout Europe and he died, the Church acknowledged in 1992 that Galileo's ideas weren't false.
Sir Isaac Newton: Wait... who?
Newton was also one of the many scientists who were involved during the Scientific Revolution. He contributed to this era by coming up with his laws of motion.
By the 16oos, the achievements of Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo had shattered the old views of astronomy and physics, so Newton helped to bring their breakthroughs under a single theory of motion.
Newton's greatest discovery was the same motion force on earth and In space. The law that linked motion to the heavens on earth was the law of universal gravitation. According to the law of universal gravitation, every object in the universe attracts every other object. The degree of attraction depends on the mass of the objects and the distance between them.
In 1687, Newton published his works into a book called, "The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy." Newton's books was one of the most important scientific books ever written. Newton believed that the world was a huge clock. He believed that is parts worked together perfectly in ways that could be expressed mathematically. Newton believed that God had created this orderly universe, the clockmaker who had set everything in motion.
CAPTION OF VIDEO: This video is an overview of Newton and his laws.
How did the change impact society at the time?
CAPTION: This image displays how the Church and its followers need to realize reality.
During the Scientific Revolution, society rejected the many ideas and discoveries of scientists because it contradicted their religious beliefs. For instance, Copernicus didn't publish his findings until the last year of his life because he feared of being ridiculed or persecuted by the people. The Church and its people viewed the scientists as insane people that had preposterous or absurd ideas of the natural world. Due to the Church's teachings of certain views, the scientists' perspectives were not accepted. Galileo Galilei was brought in front of the court for his defense of Copernicus' theory. He was later put to house arrest even after he lied and said the teachings of Copernicus were false. The Church believed that God purposely placed the earth at the center of the universe, but Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus proved the Church wrong otherwise. The many discoveries of scientific instruments that the scientists found or created were of no use to the public during this era. Moreover, not only did the scientific revolution impact society negatively, but there were also perks to the change. During the Renaissance era, many artists and writers were introduced or their fame began to arise. After the Renaissance era and the Reformation, artists began focusing their artwork on realism due to the influence of science and views on nature.
How is that change evidenced in today's modern society?
CAPTION: This image is a wordle that I've created; I've included words that are involved in the Scientific Revolution.
Even though the many discoveries and the change overall was not accepted during the Scientific Revolution, today's modern society views the Scientific Revolution as in important mark in history. If it weren't for the scientists curiosity, questioning, and challenging of the Church's views on nature, our world today wouldn't be as advanced as it is now.
Many scientists today look at the teachings of Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo as their basis for planetary purposes. Scientists today still use the basic scientific instruments that scientists during the Scientific Revolution created. For instance, Galileo Galilei produced his own telescope. In modern day, scientists use telescopes to observe the sky and how it functions. The only difference is that the modern day telescope is more advanced. A particular scientific instrument founded during the Scientific Revolution that impacted and influenced modern day society, was the thermometer. Many weather forecasters rely on the thermometer to measure and indicate the temperature for the news forecast. The Scientific Revolution helped to develop scientific tools that scientists use to study and observe nature.
In addition, Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo all contributed to the Scientific Method, which is a logical procedure for gathering and testing ideas. Experiments today are tested by following the steps of the Scientific Method. By using the Scientific Method, many scientific theories have been concluded or formed by many scientists all over the universe.
Not only did the change help develop scientific instruments, but over time, as the revolution spread throughout the world, many medicines and knowledge on the human body were founded. The discoveries in chemistry also thrived during this period.
Today's modern society separates the Church, the government, and Science. By doing this, it is easier to make decisions and come to conclusions without the tension from arguing and disagreements.