1. THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
EUROPE IN
THE 1500’s

2. ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What were the important contributions of scientists like Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton during the Scientific Revolution?

3. WHAT WAS THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION?
The Scientific Revolution was a time period (starting in the mid- 1500s) in Europe where a new way of thinking about the natural world came about.
The ideas and beliefs of ancient thinkers and of the Catholic Church were challenged by the great scientists of Europe.

4. NEW METHODS, NEW IDEAS
From 1550 to 1700 (the era of the Scientific Revolution), Europe experienced a time when new ideas in physics, astronomy, biology, and anatomy changed the ways Europeans viewed the natural world. They also used a new method for proving those new ideas. 4

5. Everything was questioned and nothing was assumed to be true
SCIENTIFIC METHOD: a logical procedure for gathering information and testing ideas
Everything was questioned and nothing was assumed to be true
Thinkers used logic and the scientific method to find answers to questions

6. A TIME OF GREAT CHANGE Because of: 1. The Renaissance
2. The Reformation
3. The Age of Exploration
…people began to question everything

7. REASONS FOR THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
The Scientific Revolution began in the 1550s because of the recent discoveries in other areas of European life.
During the Renaissance, people began to question old beliefs and thought that humans could accomplish anything.

8. REASONS FOR THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
The Protestant Reformation, which had started earlier in the 1500s, also influenced the Scientific Revolution.
Because of the Reformation, people questioned the Church’s religious beliefs.
Now, they began to also question the Church’s scientific beliefs.
Martin Luther putting up the 95 Theses

9. REASONS FOR THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
The 1500s was also the time of the Age of Exploration.
The discovery of new lands led people to search for other “new” things, such as new scientific ideas.

10. THE HELIOCENTRIC THEORY

11. NICOLAUS COPERNICUS
Copernicus’ heliocentric hypothesis proposed that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun.
Before, it was thought that the Sun revolved around the Earth (the geocentric theory)
This radically changed Europe’s concept of the universe and was the foundation for modern astronomy

12. JOHANNES KEPLER
Johannes Kepler mathematically proved Copernicus’ heliocentric theory. Kepler also proposed that planets move in elliptical orbits (not in perfect circles) and do not always travel at same speed around the Sun.

13. GALILEO GALILEI

14. Galileo was one of the most influential scientists of all time:
GALILEO GALILEI
Galileo was one of the most influential scientists of all time:
Improved the telescope
Made observations about the Moon and our Solar system
Created the Law of Inertia
Perfected the scientific method

15. TROUBLE FOR GALILEO
Galileo’s works challenged long-held Church teachings.
The Church always taught that God considered humans his greatest creation and made Earth the center of the Universe.
Galileo was brought before the Inquisition. Under the threat of torture, he was forced to recant his ideas.
Galileo lived the rest of his life under house arrest, but his ideas lived on and spread.

16. ISAAC NEWTON
THE LAW OF GRAVITY

17. ISAAC NEWTON
Isaac Newton made many scientific breakthroughs in physics:
Discovered and explained the theory of gravity
He studied the physics of motion, light, and heat
Created calculus to prove his theories
The mythical story of Newton being inspired by an apple hitting him on the head

18. ANATOMY

19. WILLIAM HARVEY
William Harvey was an English doctor who proved that blood circulates through the body and is pumped by the heart

20. ANATOMY

21. ANDREAS VESALIUS
Andreas Vesalius studied human anatomy, dissecting human corpses
His work added to European knowledge of the human body for first time in more than 1500 years
This marked the beginning of modern medical science

22. THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION SPREADS
thermometer
microscope
eyeglasses
Because of these new ideas, new inventions came about during the Scientific Revolution

23. WHY DOES THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION MATTER TO YOU?
The Scientific Revolution shaped the world we live in today. If not for the first steps of those scientists, the way we live, think, travel, communicate, and are entertained might be VERY different.