Study Notes on Political Power, Scientific Revolution, and Enlightenment

Political Power & Absolutism

• Royal families: Hapsburgs, Bourbons, Romanovs, Hohenzollems, Stuarts.
• Key monarchs:
  • Charles V: Holy Roman Emperor, ruled vast lands.
  • Phillip II: Spanish king, defender of Catholicism.
  • Ferdinand II: Holy Roman Emperor during Thirty Years' War.
  • Louis XIV: Absolute monarch of France, known as "Sun King."
  • Charles I: English king executed after civil war.
• Theocracy: government ruled by religious leaders.

Scientific Revolution

• Heliocentric vs. Geocentric:
  • Heliocentric: Sun-centered universe (Copernicus).
  • Geocentric: Earth-centered universe (Ptolemy).
• Key figures:
  • Galileo: Supported heliocentrism through telescopic evidence.
  • Kepler: Discovered elliptical orbits.
  • Brahe: Collected astronomical data.
  • Newton: Laws of motion and gravity.

Advances in Science

• Vesalius: Advanced human anatomy.
• Harvey: Discovered blood circulation.
• Boyle: Studied gas laws.
• Leeuwenhoek: Observed microorganisms.
• Torricelli: Invented barometer.
• Fahrenheit: Developed temperature scale.
• Celsius: Created Celsius temperature scale.
• Scientific method: Systematic process for experimentation.

Enlightenment Thinkers

• Hobbes: Believed in strong government to prevent chaos.
• John Locke: Advocated natural rights (life, liberty, property).
• Montesquieu: Promoted separation of powers.
• Rousseau: Concept of social contract; government by the people.
• Voltaire: Supported free speech and religious tolerance.
• Beccaria: Opposed torture and cruel punishment.
• Wollstonecraft: Advocated for women's rights.
• Diderot: Edited the Encyclopedia.