The Scientific Revolution
7.59 Describe the roots of the Scientific Revolution based upon
Christian and Muslim influences.
7.60 Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital
sources explaining the significance of new scientific theories,
the accomplishments of leading figures including Sir Frances
Bacon, Nicolaus Copernicus, Rene Descartes, Galileo Galilei,
Johannes Kepler, and Sir Isaac Newton, and new inventions,
including the telescope, microscope, thermometer, and
barometer.
The Birth of Modern Science
• In between 1540-1700 there were a
series of events (or new thoughts)
– These events led to the birth of modern
science
• Or the Scientific Revolution
• A handful of brilliant individuals laid the
foundation for science as we know it
• Often considered the MOST IMPORTANT
event in human history
Before the Revolution
• Everything was based off of what the
ancient Greeks or Romans said
– Catholic Church also was responsible for
explaining everything
• Most “known” things were based on the
Bible or Biblical teachings
• New ideas were often quickly put down
by the Catholic Church
After the Revolution
• Explanations became less “faith” based
–Based more on observations and
experiments
• Theories had to be tested to see if they
were true
–One could not just bring a new idea and
say it’s true
• You had to prove it
Roots of the Revolution
• Greek Thinkers were the early
scientists
–They only believed things that they
could observe or test
–Aristotle for example
• His idea was that people should observe
the world and draw LOGICAL conclusions
about what they see
Greece
• Greek thinkers were rationalist
– People who look at the world in a rational,
logical way
• Now not all Greek thinkers were right
– Ptolemy thought the Earth was the center
of the universe
– They did however try to explain what they
were observing and did not take it on faith
alone
Muslims
• Muslims aided in the Scientific
Revolution by preserving Greek writings
– During the Middle Ages most Greek writing
in Europe was destroyed
• They studied the Greek writings and
added their own ideas
– It was later brought back to Europe so that
new scientists could study
Renaissance
• New thinking in the Renaissance
helped also
–Humanism
• Now people are getting away from the
thinking that everything is religious based
• People want answers as to why things are
the way they are and “because God made
it that way” is no longer a good enough
answer
Greed
• Believe it or not greed played a role
too
• Many people believed that there was
a way to turn metal into Gold
–This is called Alchemy
–Although it’s not possible it did
become a forerunner into modern
chemistry
Important Scientists/Thinkers of
the Scientific Revolution
Discovery leads to doubt
• For centuries people took the church
at its word or took the word of the
Ancient Greeks
–That was until Christopher Columbus
came around
• In 1492 he sailed west hoping to reach
Asia
• He took along the map of Ptolemy
• He ran into North America instead
The doubt
• Ptolemy’s map didn’t have these new
lands on them
–He was considered the authority on
Geography and maps
• If he was wrong, what other Greek
ideas could be wrong too???
–It turns out a lot!!!
Nicolaus Copernicus
• Challenged Ptolemy’s idea that the earth was
the center of the universe
• As he studied movements of the planets he
figured out that the earth orbited the sun
• Wrote a book about his findings
– On the Revolution of the Celestial Spheres
– This book was put on the “bad” list by the pope
• It went against what the church taught
– Considered the beginning of the Scientific
Revolution
Johannes Kepler
• Challenged the idea that planetary
orbits were circular
–Said they moved in an oval shape
–Helped to prove Copernicus’ theory
Galileo Galilei
• First scientist to study the planets using
the telescope
• Discovered four moons of Jupiter and
the rings of Saturn
• Also interested in how objects fall
– His work was later used by Isaac Newton to
develop his Laws of Gravity
• Was the first scientist to use experiments
to test his theories
Galileo falling object experiment on
moon
Sir Isaac Newton
• Probably one of the greatest
scientists every
• First scientist to review the work of
previous scientists and add his own
ideas
–Law of Gravity
–Laws of Motion
–Invented Calculus
Calculus Problem
Rene Descartes
• Was a French philosopher
• Believed nothing should be accepted
as true if it can’t be proven as true
–Why we have theories and laws in
Science
Sir Francis Bacon
• Was an English philosopher
• Believed scientists should observe the
world and gather data
• Should conduct experiments
• Develop theories to explain their data
• Sounding familiar???
– It’s the SCIENTIFC METHOD!!!
New Inventions of the Scientific
Revolution
• Microscope
– Allowed us to see the world of cells and bacteria
Microscopes
New Inventions of the Scientific
Revolution
• Microscope
– Allowed us to see the world of cells and bacteria
• Thermometers
– Used to measure temperature
Thermometer
New Inventions of the Scientific
Revolution
• Microscope
– Allowed us to see the world of cells and bacteria
• Thermometers
– Used to measure temperature
• Telescope
– Used to study astronomy
Telescope
New Inventions of the Scientific
Revolution
• Microscope
– Allowed us to see the world of cells and bacteria
• Thermometers
– Used to measure temperature
• Telescope
– Used to study astronomy
• Barometer
– Used to measure air pressure
– Helps us forecast weather
Barometer