Finals Prep World History: Unit 8 - Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment in Europe

What was the scientific revolution?

The era when scientists relied on observation and reason instead of religion and ancient studies to study the universe

What is the scientific method, and which scientists are known for using this during the scientific revolution?

The step-by-step process used to prove or disprove a hypothesis

Isaac Newton and Rene Descartes are well known scientists who used the scientific method

Why were scientists not supposed to challenge classic scholars?

People had lived and built societies based off of all of the information provided by classic scholars, so they didn't like their entire foundation being challenged

The church also held a lot of control during this time and so if scientists opposed the church's beliefs they would be threatened

What was the enlightenment?

The era when European thinkers applied science to the study of societies

They used reason instead of religion and ancient texts to uncover natural laws that govern human life

New ideas about government, justice, and basic human rights were introduced

How did the scientific revolution lead to the enlightenment?

Because of the newfound ability to look at observations and reason to study, it was adapted and applied to life, to justify proper treatment and human rights

How did the enlightenment lead to revolutions around the world?

Because of the introduction of theories about equal treatment and human rights, class and racial revolutions occurred around the world

People were inspired and they agreed with the philosophies discussed, wanting their countries to make the same changes

Copernicus

Proposed a heliocentric model of the universe but was rejected because it contradicted the church and the classics

Galileo

Found more evidence of a heliocentric universe but was put on trial, faced house arrest, and was threatened with death unless he withdrew his 'hereses'

Rene Descartes

Stressed human reason over most everything else would lead to understanding

John Locke

Beliefs:

People are reasonable and moral

People have natural rights that they receive at birth (life, liberty, and property)

People should form governments to protect their natural rights

A government has an obligation to its people and if they fail the people should overthrow them

Rousseau

Beliefs:

People are naturally good but become corrupt by society and unequal distribution of property

Governments should be elected by the people

Natural Rights

Rights that belong to all humans from birth (life, liberty, and property)

Social Contract

An agreement by which people give up their freedom to a powerful government in order to avoid chaos