Unit 6-Toward a New Worldview (1540-1789)

Copernicus

heliocentric theory, spherical orbits

brahe and kepler

kepler was an assistant to brahe, who improved planetary observation charts, kepler makes 3 laws of planetary motion and proves elliptical orbits

galileo

used telescope to observe space, proved innertia

newton

makes laws of universe

bacon and descartes

Francis Bacon and René Descartes were pivotal figures in the development of modern scientific thought. Bacon emphasized empirical observation and inductive reasoning, advocating for the collection of data through experimentation to form general conclusions. Descartes, on the other hand, championed deductive reasoning and the use of doubt as a foundational principle, famously stating "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am") to establish certainty in knowledge.

adam smith the wealth of nations

provides economic commentary

how did scientific thinking change

people originally used natural philosophy for their ideas, but then used the experimental method and math to prove things

montesquieu and voltaire

criticize france with satire, also promoting a reading revolution and more ppl want to be enlightened

diderot

encyclopedia

rousseau

says people have sole sovereignty, but will be led by the few who know peoples common interests

how did enlightenment thinkers feel about religion

attacked it as oppressive, many were deists who supported separation of church and state

moses mendelssohn

leads haskalah to urge for jewish civil rights

women’s role

important artists, rococo was a new women art style popular through europe. women were excluded from science, however informal communities like salons helped people learn

frederick the great

made huge legal reforms, helped education, and maintained serfdom while buffing nobility

catherine the great of russia

improves education and government, supports encyclopedia, gives nobles more control over serfs