The Scientific Revolution

These flashcards cover key concepts and figures from the Scientific Revolution, including important discoveries, ideas, and the historical context.

What was the time period of the Scientific Revolution?

Mid-1500s to early 1700s.

What key method did the Scientific Revolution promote?

Knowledge acquired through careful observations, controlled experiments, and mathematical expressions.

Why did the Scientific Revolution primarily take place in Europe?

Europeans developed a legal system that granted independence to universities, allowing scholars freedom to pursue studies.

How did Islamic scholars view science during the Scientific Revolution?

They viewed it with suspicion as it could challenge the Quran.

What was the focus of education in China during the period of the Scientific Revolution?

Preparing males for civil service examinations based on classical Confucian texts.

Who was Nicolaus Copernicus and what was his major contribution?

A Polish astronomer who proposed that the Earth rotated around the sun.

What concept did Johannes Kepler introduce regarding planetary motion?

Planets move in elliptical orbits and do not travel at the same speed.

What improvements did Galileo Galilei make to the telescope?

He made it more powerful, leading to observations of sunspots and moons of Jupiter.

What was Sir Isaac Newton's major theory developed from observing an apple fall?

The theory of gravity.

What system of mathematics did Sir Isaac Newton develop?

Calculus.

What was Francis Bacon's contribution to the Scientific Revolution?

He helped develop the scientific method, emphasizing investigation and evidence.

What is Rene Descartes famous for in philosophy?

The quote 'I think, therefore I am' and his emphasis on reasoning and mathematics.

What major discovery did William Harvey make regarding the human body?

That blood circulates throughout the body, pumped by the heart.

What did Robert Hooke discover with the new microscope?

The cell.

What did Robert Boyle prove about air?

That air was not a basic element and defined an element as something that cannot be broken down further.

What discovery did Joseph Priestley make about air?

He discovered the existence of oxygen.