The Scientific Revolution

16th and 17th Centuries

Objective

To understand the causes of the scientific revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries

To understand the ideas of key figures of the Scientific Revolution

To understand the significance of the Scientific Revolution

Medieval Science

Not really “science” but accepted body of tradition

The Ptolemaic System

Geocentric Model

Nicholas Copernicus

Polish astronomer (1473-1543)

On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres– Published just before he died

Heliocentric model

Nicholas Copernicus

The Heliocentric Model

Galileo Galelei

Supporter of heliocentric system

The Telescope

Starry Messenger

Galileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei

Galileo vs. the Catholic church

Galileo on trial in 1616

Tycho Brahe

Danish astronomer (1546-1601)

Geocentric-Heliocentric model

Data used by his student, Johannes Kepler

Tycho Brahe

Johannes Kepler

German astronomer (1571-1630)

Argued planets moved in elliptical orbits

But could not explain why

Johannes Kepler

Johannes Kepler

Isaac Newton

English scientist (1642-1727)

Principia Mathematica

Revolutionized science with theory of gravity

Isaac Newton

Rationalism

New science means a new way of looking at the world

Empirical method by Francis Bacon Rational deduction by Rene Descartes People no longer looked to authority or

tradition to understand life

Activity

Using Page 623-628– Vocabulary

• Geocentric theory• Scientific Revolution• Heliocentric theory• Scientific method

New Discoveries

Causes:

Isaac Newton

Galileo Galilei

Scientific Revolution

Political Theory

New scientific principles influences people’s relationship to society

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)

The Leviathan

Major Enlightenment Ideas

Every social, political and economic problem could be solved through the use of reason

Governments are created to secure an orderly society

Separation of powers is the best way to protect human liberties

All men are created “free and equal” A free market should be allowed to regulate

trade

Enlightenment Thinkers

John Locke

Baron de Montesquieu

Voltaire

Social Contract

Thomas Hobbes John Locke•Humans are naturally cruel, greedy and selfish.•To escape this “brutish” life people entered into a social contract.•Only a powerful government could ensure an orderly society.•Believed only an absolute monarchy could keep a society completely orderly.

•Humans are naturally reasonable, moral and good•Humans have natural rights: life liberty and property•People form governments to protect natural rights•Best government was one with limited power•If a government violates people’s natural rights, people have the right to overthrow government

Separation of Powers

Baron de Montesquieu: Criticized absolute monarchy and admired British government– British protected themselves from tyranny by

dividing powers of government between three branches: legislative, executive and judicial (misconception)

– Each branch of government should be

able to ‘check’ the other two What government does this sound like?

Enlightenment and the Economy Physiocrats rejected mercantilism in

favor of a policy called laissez faire.– Physiocrats were Enlightenment

thinkers who focused on economic reforms

Laissez-Faire: allowing business to operate with little or no government interference– Real wealth comes from productive land not

gold and silver

– Supported free trade and opposed tariffs

Enlightenment and the Economy

Adam Smith: Free market should be allowed to regulate business activity– Manufacturing, trade, wages, profits and economic growth

are all linked to the market forces of supply and demand– Where there is demand, suppliers will seek to meet it

because there are profits and economic rewards to be had– Smith supported laissez faire, but also believed that a

government had a duty to protect society, administer justice, and provide public works.

His ideas lead to very productive economies during the Industrial Revolution (1800’s and 1900’s)

Supply and Demand

Major Enlightenment Ideas for Society

Detested the slave trade and slavery Deplored religious prejudice Defended freedom of speech Attacked divine right theory Urged education for all Hated unequal distribution of property Believed governments should be freely

elected Women’s first duty was to her family

Enlightenment Changes Society

Women: Women were not equal and were criticized for attempting to gain equality

Salons: Men and women gather in living rooms to discuss Enlightenment ideas (chat rooms)

Music: Ballets and operas become popular (Bach, Handel, Mozart)

Art: Baroque gives way to rococo art (simple, elegant and charming)

Literature: Novels become popular (Robinson Cruesoe)

Enlightenment Changes Society

Majority/Lower Class/Peasants: Slow to change and hurt the worst– Serfdom disappears in the west, rises in the east– Peasants in Western Europe allowed to own or rent land– All peasants throughout Europe dealt with similar issues

• Forced into military• Lands could be torn up without compensation by

nobility

Some peasants become eager for change, some resist change completely

REVIEW QUESTIONSWho believed that people are naturally cruel and greedy?

a) Montesquieub) Hobbesc) Rousseaud) Voltaire

Which of the following is true of the physiocrats?a) They rejected laissez faire in favor of

mercantilism. b) They rejected mercantilism in favor of

laissez faire.c) They rejected both mercantilism and

laissez faire.d) They focused on social reform.

REVIEW QUESTIONSWho believed that people are naturally cruel and greedy?

a) Montesquieub) Hobbesc) Rousseaud) Voltaire

Which of the following is true of the physiocrats?a) They rejected laissez faire in favor of

mercantilism. b) They rejected mercantilism in favor of

laissez faire.c) They rejected both mercantilism and

laissez faire.d) They focused on social reform.

Enlightenment ThinkersIn republican governments, men are

all equal; equal they are also in despotic governments: in the former, because they are everything; in the

latter, because they are nothing.

~Baron de Montesquieu The Spirit of Laws Bk. VI, Ch.2

The market price of every particular commodity is

regulated by the proportion between the quantity which is actually brought to

market, and the demand of those who are willing to pay the natural price of the commodity or the whole value of the

rent, labor and profit which must be paid in

order to bring it thither.

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The reason why men enter into society is the preservation of their property, and putting themselves

under government, is the preservation of their property.

~John Locke Second Treatise of Government ChXIX, “Of the Dissolution in Government”

Political Theory

John Locke (1632-1704)– Two Treatises on Government (1690)

– An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690)

Warning

Scientific revolution did not affect most of society

Most people in Europe illiterate and uneducated

Superstitions still remain among common people

Witch Hunts popular in 1500s and 1600s

Conclusion

Medieval science based on tradition in understanding nature

Scientific Revolution changes people’s view on the universe

Scientific principles affect other bodies of knowledge

Scientific Revolution does not affect everybody but sets the stage for the modern world