Scientific Revolution

Introduction to the Scientific Revolution (1550-1700)

• The period from 1550 to 1700 marked a Scientific Revolution in Europe.

• New ideas in various fields such as physics, astronomy, biology, and anatomy significantly changed European perspectives on the natural world.

Logic and the Scientific Method

• Thinkers utilized logic and the scientific method to explore questions.

• The approach was characterized by skepticism, where everything was questioned and nothing was assumed to be true.

Reasons for the Scientific Revolution

• The Scientific Revolution began in the 1550s driven by developments in various areas:

  • Renaissance:

    • Inspired people to question old beliefs and pursue human achievement.

  • Reformation:

    • Challenged the ideas of the Roman Catholic Church.

  • Age of Exploration:

    • Discovery of new lands prompted searches for further knowledge and ideas.

• Overall, the Renaissance, Reformation, and Age of Exploration collectively led to questioning all aspects of knowledge.

Key Figures and Ideas of the Scientific Revolution

• 1566: Marie de Coste Blanche publishes "The Nature of the Sun and Earth".

• 1543: Nicolaus Copernicus publishes a heliocentric theory, suggesting that Earth and other planets revolve around the sun, fundamentally altering the European view of the universe.

• 1590: Zacharias Janssen invents the microscope.

• 1543: Andreas Vesalius publishes the first human anatomy textbook.

Instructions for Class Activities

• Students are instructed to:

  1. Log into Google Classroom.

  2. Access today’s PowerPoint titled "12/2 Scientific Revolution."

  3. Fill out the provided table based on the slides.

  4. Complete the conclusion question at the end.

  • Note: These notes will be collected at a later date.

Significant Scientific Figures

Nicolaus Copernicus

• Proposed the heliocentric hypothesis: the sun, not the Earth, is at the center of the universe.

• This theory laid the foundation for modern astronomy.

Johannes Kepler

• Mathematically validated Copernicus’ heliocentric theory.

• Introduced the concept that planets move in elliptical orbits and do not maintain a constant speed.

Galileo Galilei

• Known for his improvements to the telescope and significant observations of the moon and solar system.

• Established the Law of Inertia and refined the scientific method.

• His findings conflicted with church teachings, leading to his trial and forced recantation.

Isaac Newton

• His discoveries included the theory of gravity and comprehensive studies on motion, light, and heat.

• Developed calculus to support his scientific theories.

William Harvey

• English physician who demonstrated that blood circulates through the body, pumped by the heart.

Andreas Vesalius

• Conducted significant studies on human anatomy, enhancing European understanding of the human body after a 1,500-year lapse.

• His work is seen as the beginning of modern scientific study of the human body.