1. The Scientific Revolution: Astronomy
Unit Two/Ch. 16
AP European History
Ms. Tully - UHS

2. Focus Question
What did Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton contribute to a new vision of the universe, and how did it differ from the Ptolemaic conception of the universe?

3. Background to the Scientific Revolution
Revival of classical works by Renaissance humanists
Renaissance artists – anatomy, mathematics
Exploration  technical advancements
Printing press
Rediscovery of ancient mathematics
Renaissance magic  desire to understand & dominate nature
Geocentric conception  concentric spheres w/ fixed earth at center

5. Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)
Spent 24 years developing heliocentric conception  On the Revolutions of Heavenly Spheres
Challenged Ptolemaic system  sun at center
New uncertainty of human role
Condemned by Protestants & Catholics

6. Tycho Brahe (1546-1601) & Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)
Brahe  Danish nobleman w/ a castle on island
20 years of detailed observations
Brahe’s assistant  Johannes Kepler
Kepler gained possession of Brahe’s data
Three Laws of Planetary Motion
Eliminated idea of circular motion & crystal spheres

7. Galileo Galilei ( )
First European to use telescope in astronomy
Contradicted theory that everything is made like the earth
The Starry Messenger (1610), Dialogue on the Two Chief World Systems: Ptolemaic and Copernican
Condemned by Roman Inquisition  put under house arrest for 8 years
Developed law of inertia

8. Isaac Newton ( )
Created synthesis of Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo
Englishmen, studied at Cambridge
Invented calculus, studied composition of light, law of universal gravitation
Principia (1686)
President of Royal Society in 1727
Universality of law could mathematically explain all motion in the universe
Dominant world view until 20th C