figures of the scientific revolution

Nicolaus Copernicus

His heliocentric theory, backed by mathematical findings and naked-eye observations, marked the start of the Scientific Revolution.

Tycho Brahe

Kepler’s boss who developed his own geo-heliocentric model of the universe (Tychonic system) and observed instances in “the heavens” that proved Aristotle’s theory of unchanging celestial heavens wrong.

Johannes Kepler

Tycho Brahe’s assistant, proved Copernicus wrong when he theorized that planets actually move in ellipses. Also offered further mathematical evidence Of Copernicus’s heliocentric theory.

Sir Isaac Newton

Created the Laws of Motion and Universal Gravitation, discovered gravity, developed calculus.

Sir Francis Bacon

Championed inductive reasoning (observation and experimentation leads to conclusions) over deductive reasoning (using broad principles to reach specific conclusions). Developed the Scientific Method.

Galileo Galilei

Popularized telescopes and used them to make astronomical observations (also showed that, contrary to the Church’s beliefs, the universe was not perfect). Not executed by the Church because he went back on his word to save his life.

Rene Descartes

Devised a universal method of deductive reasoning based on mathematics.

Robert Boyle

One of the first to conduct chemistry experiments

Francesco Redi

Challenged Aristotle’s theory of spontaneous generation (life can come from non-living matter, like flies on rotting meat)

William Harvey

Discovered the circulation of blood, which proved Galen’s age-old theory that the liver made blood and was carried by the veins + the heart created blood that flowed through arteries)

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

Father of microbiology, first person to document bacteria, developed the single-lens microscope.

Andres Vesalius

Father of modern anatomy, performed his own dissections and rejected preconceived notions of anatomy.

Margaret Cavendish

Published books on science under her own name that were not taken seriously. “Observations Upon Experimental Philosophy”

Maria Winckelmann Kirch

Co-discovered the Comet of 1702, her husband’s assistant (both studied anatomy)