Unit 2: Scientific, Enlightenment, and Revolutions

Scientific Revolution

A period during the 1500s and 1600s when new discoveries changed how Europeans understood the natural world.

Scientific method

A process for answering questions using observation

Observation

Information gathered by carefully watching

Evidence

Facts or information used to support a claim or conclusion.

Empirical evidence

Evidence gained through observation

Hypothesis

A testable prediction or possible explanation for a question.

Reason

The use of logic and careful thinking to solve problems or make decisions.

Heliocentric

Describes a model in which the Sun is at the center of the solar system and planets orbit it.

Geocentric

Describes a model in which Earth is at the center of the universe and other objects orbit it.

Nicolaus Copernicus

Astronomer who proposed the heliocentric model

Galileo Galilei

Italian scientist who used a telescope to make observations that supported heliocentrism.

Isaac Newton

English scientist who explained laws of motion and gravity

Heretic

A person whose beliefs are considered to go against official religious teachings.

Natural law

A rule or pattern in nature that can be discovered through observation

Revolution

A major and often rapid change in ideas

Natural rights

Rights that people are born with and that should not be taken away by a government.

Life, liberty, and property

John Locke’s three natural rights: the right to be live, be free, and own possessions.

Inalienable rights

Rights that cannot rightfully be taken away or given up.

Government

The system or group that makes and enforces laws for a society.

Infringement

An action that limits, violates, or takes aways someone’s rights

Absolute monarchy

A government in which a monarch holds nearly all political power.

Constitutional monarchy

A government with a king or queen whose power is limited by a constitution or laws.

Democracy

A government in which citizens have political power

Authoritarianism

A system of government in which power is concentrated in one leader or a small group and citizens have limited political freedoms.

Totalitarianism

A system in which the government attempts to control nearly every part of public and private life.

Theocracy

A government ruled by religious leaders or based on religious law.

Oligarchy

A government controlled by a small powerful group of people

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement of the 1600s and 1700s that used reason to question government

Social contract

An agreement in which people give a government some power in return for protection of their rights and order in society.

John Locke

English philosopher who argued that people have natural rights to life