The Scientific Revolution in Global Perspective Lecture 7 The Scientific Revolution in Global Perspective

Europe Superior? Common myth that Europe was superior in most ways to the rest of the world This included culture and science However, evidence suggests otherwise!

Before Europe there were the Chinese Draw loom – 1400 years before Europe Magnetic Compass – 1100 years before Europe Paper making – 1000 years before Europe Gun Powder – 600 years before Europe

Possible Beginnings in Europe (causes) Protestant Reformation When Luther questioned the traditions of the church- others took this as a sign to question everything Renaissance encouraged curiosity, investigation, discovery, modern day knowledge.  Enlightenment- focus on humanism and the belief that people can get better caused people to question old beliefs.

European Science European science was based on Classical knowledge Lecture 7 European Science European science was based on Classical knowledge Much of it was preserved in Alexandria by people from the Middle East

Middle Ages Science of Ancient World was preserved by Islamic Scholars Lecture 7 Middle Ages Science of Ancient World was preserved by Islamic Scholars Islamic Societies are known as the great Synthesizers (The Islamic major intellectual center was called the House of Wisdom) Trigonometry was first studied in India European Fibonacci studied Persian texts

Mathematics and Science Lecture 7 Mathematics and Science In Uzbekistan and Baghad, Al-Khwarizmi was writing a book on mathematics called Al- jabr. Paper came from China which meant math could now be done on paper

Lecture 7 New Information??? Copernicus’ model of lunar motion same as Ibn al-Shatir (Damascus, 1375) Copernicus’ descriptions of motions of other planets same as two people—Mu’ayyad al-Din al-’Urdi (Damascus, 1266) and Nasir al-Din al- Tusi (Mongol, Central Asia 1274 Copernicus, born 1473 in Poland

During the course of the Scientific Revolution Lecture 7 During the course of the Scientific Revolution People began to question traditional beliefs about religion and science Development of Perspective Drawing. In 1453 Alberti, an Italian artist, developed math and geometry of linear perspective. Europe began to see and think differently than they had in the past and in relation to the rest of the world

China and the gunpowder revolution Lecture 7 China and the gunpowder revolution The Chinese invention of gunpowder made warfare all over the world very different, affecting the way battles were fought and borders were drawn throughout the Middle Ages.

What was the consequence? Lecture 7 What was the consequence? After Newton, science in Europe was not as linked to religion as it once was.

Islamic Response Islamic Societies had a hard time with the new science. It was not consistent with the Qu’ran like Greek science. This was largely because of the influence of conservative ulama (Islamic Scholars) who said God punish those who seek the secrets of divine truth. The consequence for them was that Arab science lags behind western science into the 19th century and beyond

Lecture 7 And in China? Jesuits like Ricci tried to impress the Chinese with mechanical toys, European science, and clocks Chinese were not interested in western science or technology. They did not see the point to it –though they let Jesuits run their observatories because of the accuracy of their astronomical predictions

Kaozheng (China’s version of the House Wisdom) Lecture 7 Kaozheng (China’s version of the House Wisdom) But there was a New Chinese intellectual movement during the Qing Dynasty “Seek truth from facts” Precision, accuracy, and rigorous analysis to understand any problem Revival of ancient Chinese mathematical texts Partly to show that Western science was derived from traditional Chinese mathematics

Japan’s Response “Eastern Ethics and Western Science” Lecture 7 Japan’s Response “Eastern Ethics and Western Science” Allowed Dutch one trading port—imported many European books, especially science, medicine, and mathematics They recognized the significance of western science and technology, but understood it in the context of a Confucian culture