The_SCIENTIFIC_REVOLUTION__Explained__AP_Euro_ReviewUnit_4_Topic_2_

Introduction to the Scientific Revolution

  • Prior to 1500, Europeans held incorrect beliefs about the world.

  • They viewed the earth as the center of the universe and thought a significant portion of the human body was composed of mucus.

  • The Scientific Revolution began to challenge these views.

Roots of the Scientific Revolution

1. Establishment of Universities

  • Medieval universities were founded on Greek scholarship, especially preserved by Islamic scholars.

  • During the 14th and 15th centuries, new departments in mathematics and astronomy were created, leading to new ways of thinking about the natural world.

2. The Renaissance

  • Wealthy patrons supported studies of the natural world, emphasizing realism in art and science.

3. Impact of the Printing Press

  • The printing press facilitated the quick dissemination of new scientific discoveries, allowing for wider readership and discussion.

Key Figures in Astronomy

Nicolaus Copernicus

  • Challenged the long-accepted geocentric model (earth centered) developed by Aristotle and Ptolemy.

  • Proposed the heliocentric model (sun centered), suggesting that the earth and other planets revolve around the sun.

  • Demonstrated that the earth spins on its axis, causing the appearance of the sun rising and setting.

Johannes Kepler

  • Built upon Copernicus' work and used mathematics to formulate three laws of planetary motion:

    1. Elliptical Orbits: Planets orbit the sun in ellipses, not perfect circles.

    2. Variable Speeds: Planets move faster when closer to the sun.

    3. Orbital Periods: The time taken to orbit the sun is related to the distance from the sun.

Galileo Galilei

  • Utilized the telescope to observe celestial bodies, enhancing the understanding of the universe.

  • Proved that planets and moons were composed of similar materials to Earth.

  • His experimental method further challenged established truths, leading to conflict with the Catholic Church.

Conflict with the Catholic Church

  • The new scientific ideas contradicted the Church's teachings and philosophical authority, especially as the Church sought to reclaim credibility during the Catholic Reformation.

  • Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo faced censorship and prohibition from the Church.

Isaac Newton

  • Formulated the law of universal gravitation, combining the physics of Galileo with Kepler's mathematics.

  • Established that gravity holds celestial bodies in their orbits, directly proportional to their sizes and weights.

  • His theories dominated astronomy until Einstein's theories emerged.

Advancements in Understanding the Human Body

Galen's Humoral Theory

  • Dominant theory by Galen stated that health depended on balancing four humors: blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm.

  • Disease resulted from imbalances among these humors.

1. Paracelsus

  • Rejected humoral theory, suggesting that chemical imbalances caused disease and could be treated with chemical remedies.

2. Andreas Vesalius

  • Revolutionized anatomical studies through public dissections and published findings that debunked Galen's theories.

3. William Harvey

  • Corrected Galen's views on circulation, demonstrating that blood circulates in a single system throughout the body.

Innovations in Reasoning

Francis Bacon

  • Emphasized empiricism and inductive reasoning—understanding the world through observation and gradual generalization.

Rene Descartes

  • Introduced deductive reasoning, promoting doubt as a tool to arrive at undeniable truths.

Continuity of Older Beliefs

  • Not all scholars abandoned ancient beliefs; some, like Kepler, still believed in astrology.

  • Alchemical practices persisted alongside new scientific methods.