1. The Scientific Revolution

2. The Philosophical Medieval View
Aristotle & Ptolemy from Greece supported the
Geocentric theory:
Earth was an unmoving object located at the center of the universe- the sun and planets moved around the Earth
Religion guided views too: Christianity taught that God had placed Earth at the center of the universe.

3. Geocentric Theory

4. Aristotle Old Belief: the world is flat, covered by a bowl above
New Theory: Geocentric Theory – the world is round, and is the center of the universe
Findings: Uses logical reasoning
Reactions: affirms religious teachings
Impact: theories last for over 1,000 years

5. Aristotle (384BC – 322BC) Greek philosopher
Developed geocentric model.
Philosophies had long-lasting effects on philosophical theories.

6. Claudius Ptolemy (85AD – 165AD)
Greek astronomer, mathematician & geographer
Expanded Aristotle’s geocentric theory.
Introduced trigonometry methods.

7. Before the Scientific Revolution
Science was called “natural philosophy”
Science mixed with moral philosophy, theology, numerology, & magic
Ancient Greek sources highly trusted
Few experiments were performed

8. What was the Scientific Revolution?
From 1542 to 1700
Development of new ways to study universe
Old authorities no longer blindly accepted
Application of mathematics to natural world
Creation and spread of new ideas and discoveries

9. Causes of the Scientific Revolution
The voyages of discovery and colonization
Ancient & Medieval works translated into Latin, then vernacular languages
New inventions & institutions that promoted sharing of knowledge

10. Heliocentric Model Earth is not center of the universe
Earth is just another planet
Earth revolves around the Sun
Night and day caused by Earth’s rotation

11. Geocentric vs. Heliocentric Models
Heliocentric Theory
Geocentric vs. Heliocentric Models

12. Nicolaus Copernicus Old Belief: Geocentric theory
New Theory: Heliocentric Theory – the sun is at the center of the universe
Findings: Maps the sky for 20 years
Reactions: Disbelief and outrage – “this goes against the church’s teachings!”
Impact: Father of modern Astronomy

13. Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)
Sun-centered universe – heliocentric theory
Earth is no different than any other planet
On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres (1543)

14. Tycho Brahe & Johannes Kepler
Old Belief: Geocentric theory (perfectly circular orbits, universe never changes)
New Theory: Heliocentric theory, elliptical orbits, universe is changing
Findings: View a supernova, use complex mathematics to prove theory
Reactions: Disbelief
Impact: No credit until after death

15. Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) Uses experiments & observations
Planetary movement is a mathematical formula
Planets move around the Sun in elliptical orbits NOT circles
Confirms Copernicus ideas

16. Galileo Galilei
Old Belief: Geocentric theory, universe is perfect & unchanging
New Belief: Universe is imperfect & changing
Findings: Creates telescope to view the heavens, pendulum, falling objects at fixed and predictable rates
Reactions: Attacked by the Inquisition – spends rest of life under house arrest
Impact: Discovery of Jupiter’s moons, sun spots, and visual proof of Helocentricity

17. Galileo Galilei ( )
GALILEO – designs 1st telescope w/lens & sees movement of stars & moons (similar to the movement of the planets)
Church believes heavens are fixed, unmoving & earth is central  they are furious w/Galileo!
Galileo accused of heresy (crimes against Church)  1633 brought to trial before Catholic Inquisition & he recants his statements

18. Why did the Catholic Church care?
Galileo was CATHOLIC!
The Protestant Reformation
Events had disturbed the faith of many Christians
Movements in the heavens which contradicted Church doctrine

19. Isaac Newton
Old Belief: Geocentric theory, spirits control the movement of heavenly bodies
New Belief: Heliocentric theory, gravity
Findings: Complex mathematics prove Newton’s “3 laws”
Reactions: wide-spread acceptance
Impact: Father of engineering and physics

20. Isaac Newton ( )
Universal law of motion  every object in universe attracts every other object
Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (1687) - Explained gravity (what goes up must come down)
Universe is a giant clock- all parts work together but God set clock in motion.

21. Geocentric vs. Heliocentric
Video Clip:
(7 minutes)

22. Galen of Pergamum Old Belief: Body is controlled by spirits
New Belief: Body can be understood through examination
Findings: Dissection of animals to learn about human body
Reactions: Acceptance – God made all of us after all
Impact: Founder of anatomy – theories untested for over 1,000 years!

23. Andreas Vesalius Old Belief: Dissection of bodies is a sin
New Belief: Human dissection is essential to medicine
Findings: Dissected human corpses to prove theories
Reactions: Acceptance – can’t argue with physical evidence
Impact: Founder of modern science of anatomy and physiology

24. Andreas Vesalius ( )
First to dissect human bodies (even though a disapproved practice)
Wrote On the Fabric of the Human Body (1543)
His published observations included detailed drawings of human organs, bones & muscle.

25. William Harvey Old Belief: Food is turned into blood in the heart
New Belief: The heart constantly recycles the same blood
Findings: Observed a still-beating heart
Reactions: Many unwilling to accept his theories
Impact: Father of physiology – how the body works

26. Francis Bacon
Old Belief: logic and reason are sufficient to prove a scientific belief
New Belief: experimentation is necessary to prove a theory
Findings: creates the Scientific Method
Reactions: ignored by Queen Elizabeth, but knighted by James I
Impact: father of “empiricism” – knowledge can only come from experimentation

27. The Scientific Method Observation Research Hypothesis Experiment
Analysis
Conclusion

28. Rene Descartes
Old Belief: Math and philosophy should be separate sciences
New Belief:
Math and philosophy can be used together to do amazing things
Everything should be questioned
Findings: Cartesian coordinates, no limits to God’s creation
Reactions: Math was controversial, but logical reasoning was supported
Impact: Father of Geometry and Western Philosophy

29. Rene Descartes (1596-1650) French scientist & mathematician.
Developed analytical geometry (links both algebra & geometry)
Developments provided new tools for scientific research.