Scientific Revolution, Enlightenment, French Revolution

Midterm Review #4

Ptolemy

A Greek astronomer from the 300s B.C. who proposed the geocentric theory.

Geocentric Theory

The astronomical model in which Earth is at the center of the universe.

Copernicus

A Polish cleric who, in the early 1500s, proposed the heliocentric theory and wrote 'Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies'.

Heliocentric Theory

The astronomical model in which the sun is at the center of the universe.

Brahe

A Danish astronomer in the late 1500s known for his accurate data on planetary movements.

Kepler

A Danish mathematician from the early 1600s who proved that planets orbit elliptically.

Galileo

An Italian astronomer from the early 1600s known for his work on telescopes and discoveries about the moon.

Bacon

An English philosopher known for developing empiricism in the 1600s.

Descartes

A French philosopher from the 1600s who contributed to analytical geometry and the scientific method.

Newton

An English physicist from the 1600s known for the laws of gravity and the work 'The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy'.

Harvey

An English biologist who, in 1628, revealed how the human heart functions.

Janssen

A Dutch biologist credited with inventing the first microscope in 1590.

Leeuwenhoek

A Dutch biologist in the 1670s known for examining bacteria and blood cells under a microscope.

Torricelli

An Italian chemist who invented the first mercury barometer in 1643.

Fahrenheit

A German physicist who created the first mercury-glass thermometer in 1714.

Celsius

A Swedish astronomer who developed a mercury glass thermometer with a new scale in 1742.

Galen

A Greek biologist from the Middle Ages known for his anatomical studies of humans using animal dissections.

Vesalius

A Flemish biologist who published 'On the Structure of the Human Body' in 1543, disproving some of Galen's assumptions.

Jenner

A British physician who developed a vaccine to prevent smallpox in the late 1700s.

Boyle

An English chemist who authored 'The Skeptical Chemist' in 1661, explaining the gas laws.

Scientific Method

A systematic approach used by scientists involving hypothesis, experimentation, and unbiased conclusions.

Five Core Ideas of Enlightenment

Reason: truth could be discovered through logical thinking, applied in all aspects of life.

Nature: Natural things are good, belief in natural laws of science and economics and politics

Happiness: Those who follow nature’s laws will be happy

Progress: Belief in a progressive society

Liberty: many envied the progress of England: through reason, society could be set free

Hobbes

A philosopher known for 'Leviathan' and the idea of a social contract advocating for absolute monarchy.

John Locke

A philosopher who wrote 'Treaties on Government', advocating for natural rights and limited government.

Voltaire

A prolific writer known for his advocacy of freedom of thought and religion, and his critiques of French society.

Baron de Montesquieu

A philosopher known for 'On the Spirit of Laws'; his ideas influenced the separation of powers in government.

Diderot

Editor of the 'Encyclopedia', which supported religious tolerance and was banned after volume seven.

Rousseau

A philosopher who argued for the general will and equality among all people.

Cesare Beccaria

An Italian thinker who opposed torture and capital punishment, advocating for social order.

Mary Wollstonecraft

An early advocate for women's rights, arguing for women's equality in education and life.

French and American Revolutions

Two revolutions greatly influenced by Enlightenment ideals.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to avoid concentration of power.

Causes of the French Revolution

France’s financial crisis, rising bread prices, the old regime class system, weak leadership, and failed reforms.

The Bastille

A political and symbolic act of revolution occurred when citizens of Paris stormed this fortress.

Robespierre's period of power

Known as the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution.

Moderate governments of the French Revolution

Included the National Assembly, Legislative Assembly, and the Directory.