1. Scientific Revolution

2. Before the Revolution…
Scholars relied on established authorities for the truth…
Who were these established authorities??

3. Before the Revolution…
Established authorities included:
The Bible & early church writings
The Catholic Church
Aristotle & other Pagan philosophers

4. Pre-Revolution: Alchemists
Early scientists who used spells & magic formulas
Discovered much about nature

5. Pre-Revolution: Astrologers
Studied the position of the stars & planets, as well as the way in which the positions of these bodies affected people’s lives
Contributed to the body of information regarding the cosmos

6. New Beliefs Emerge Principle of Doubt:
Nothing can be believed unless it has been proven through experimentation
New instruments:
Barometer, microscope, thermometer

7. Pre-Revolution: Geocentricity
Earth as the center of the universe
Planets & sun rotate around earth

8. Pre-Revolution: Geocentricity
According to Church doctrine, God created the universe to serve his people; therefore, the people’s home must be the center of the universe

9. New Theory: Heliocentricity
Sun as the center of the universe
Planets rotate around it

10. Nicolaus Copernicus Polish astronomer Wrote On the Revolution of
Heavenly Spheres

11. Nicolaus Copernicus
Stated that Earth rotated on an axis & revolved around the sun
Works were never published in Poland for fear of punishment by the church

12. Johannes Kepler
German Astronomer & Mathematician

13. Johannes Kepler
Stated that the planets move in an oval-shaped path (ellipses)
Used mathematics to prove the heliocentric theory

14. Galileo Galilee Italian Mathematician Copernican theory
Wrote Dialogue on Two Great World Systems

15. Galileo Galilee
Established the universal laws of physics & the law of inertia (body in motion stays in motion)

16. Galileo Galilee Stood trial for heresy
Due to the Inquisition Galileo was forced to recant his scientific position

17. Galileo’s Observations
Sun Spots
Earth rotates on its axis
Rings on Saturn
Moons of Jupiter

18. Galileo’s Observations
Mountains & valleys of the moon
Rate at which objects fall ( feet per sec) minus the friction of air

19. Sir Isaac Newton English Scientist
Discovered the law of universal gravitation
Developed calculus

20. Sir Isaac Newton Wrote Mathematic Principles of Natural Science
Precise mathematical formulas could describe an orderly universe

21. Conclusions The Scientific Revolution:
Created an atmosphere of skepticism
Emphasized the importance of evidence
Impacted law, study of history, chronology & eventually philosophy