On the back of your handout, write a response to the following questions: 1. Which of the theories do you find to be the most believable? Why? (You may include more than one) 2. Which of the theories do you believe is the least believable? Why? 3. How do these theories apply to the growing conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Europe? Which of these theories seem familiar to you? Why would that be?

What was it? A shift from Medieval superstition and archaic studies to a period of scientific observation, experimentation, and analysis. Occurred during the Renaissance period (mid 14 th - 16 th centuries

Ptolemy An ancient Greek astronomer and mathematician, Ptolemy's geocentric views on the structure of the universe dominated astronomy until the Scientific Revolution.

Copernicus 16 th century Polish Heliocentric theory Planets around sun Moon around earth “On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres

Johannes Kepler German mathematician ( ) studied the orbits of the planets and sought to find what defined the structure of the universe according to simple geometry. He came up with the laws of planetary motion, which explained the orbital properties of planets, and factored extensively into Isaac Newton's later work Elliptical orbits of planets

Galileo Galilei Italian He studied physics, specifically the laws of gravity and motion, and invented the telescope and microscope. Galileo eventually combined his laws of physics with the observations he made with his telescope to defend the heliocentric Copernican view of the universe. Dialogue on the Two Chief Systems of the World. Upon its publication, he was censored by the Catholic Church and sentenced to house arrest in 1633, where he remained until his death in 1642.

Isaac Newton English Took the current theories on astronomy a step further and formulated an accurate comprehensive model of the workings of the universe based on the law of universal gravitation. Principia. This work also went along way toward developing calculus

Andreas Vesalius Italy Was educated in the anatomical works and theories of the ancient Greek physician Galen, whose views on anatomy had long been the standard in Europe. Vesalius questioned Galen's authority, and published On the Fabric of the Human Body in The first great modern work of science Foundation of modern biology

Francis Bacon English philosopher Developed the Scientific Method Inductive Reasoning: particular to general Systematic observations/ experiments/ hypotheses

Rene Descartes The inventor of deductive reasoning (General to particular) His work, Geometry, described how the motion of a point could be mapped graphically by comparing its position to planes of reference. His work Discourse of Method “I think, therefore I am” Separation of mind and matter Father of modern Rationalism: reason = knowledge

The Enlightenment Also known as the Age of Reason (17 th -18 th centuries) Was a time when man began to use his reason to discover the world Dispelled the superstition and fear of the medieval world. The effort to discover the natural laws which governed the universe led to scientific, political and social advances. Enlightenment thinkers examined the rational basis of all beliefs and in the process rejected the authority of church and state.

John Locke (1632–1704) An English political theorist who focused on the structure of governments. Locke believed that men are all rational and capable people but must compromise some of their beliefs in the interest of forming a government for the people. In his famous Two Treatises of Government (1690), he championed the idea of a representative government that would best serve all constituents. Tabula Rasa (we are molded by our experiences) Natural (inalienable) rights Life, liberty, property

Baron de Montesquieu (1689–1755) French political thinker The Spirit of Laws, expanded John Locke’s political study and incorporated the ideas of a division of state and separation of powers. 3 branches Checks and balances Deducing that climate is a major factor in determining the type of government a given country should have. Republic (small states) Despotism (large states) Monarchies (medium states)

Voltaire (1694–1778) French writer and the primary satirist of the Enlightenment, who criticized religion and leading philosophies of the time. Many plays and essays frequently advocated freedom from the ploys of religion Treatise on Toleration: “All men are brothers under God” Deism: God = clockmaker. Creates universe (clock) and lets it go. Candide (1759), the most notable of his works, conveyed his criticisms of optimism and superstition

Denis Diderot (1713–1784) French scholar who was the primary editor of the Encyclopédie, a massive thirty- five-volume compilation of human knowledge in the arts and sciences, along with commentary from a number of Enlightenment thinkers. Became a prominent symbol of the Enlightenment and helped spread the movement throughout Europe

Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778) Swiss-French thinker Believing that man was at his best when unshackled by the conventions of society. The Social Contract (1762) conceived of a system of direct democracy in which all citizens contribute to an overarching “general will” that serves everyone at once. (gov’t should embody will of majority) An entire society agrees to be governed by its general will Opposed Divine right of Kings

Adam Smith 1723–1790) Scottish economist Objected to the stifling mercantilist systems that were in place during the late eighteenth century. Wealth of Nations (1776) A dissertation criticizing mercantilism and describing the many merits of a free trade system. Laissez-faire economics!!!

Thomas Hobbes 1588–1679 English philosopher and political theorist 1651 treatise Leviathan Started the English Enlightenment. Detailed Hobbes’s theory that all humans are inherently self-driven and evil and that the best form of government is thus a single, all- powerful monarch to keep everything in order.