World History II
SOL Review
SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION ENLIGHTENMENT
Scientific Revolution
 Emphasis on reason and
systematic observation of nature
 Formulation of the scientific
method
 Expansion of scientific
knowledge
Scientists
 Copernicus – heliocentric theory
 Kepler – planetary motion (planets revolve
around the sun in elliptical orbits)
 Galileo – used telescope to support the
heliocentric theory
 Harvey – circulation of blood
Heliocentric Theory
Absolutism
 Definition – a monarch who has complete control
over the country and people (centralization of
power) + divine right (power to rule comes from
God)
 Peter the Great – westernization of Russia
 Louis XIV – Palace of Versailles (symbol of royal
power)/Sun King
 Frederick the Great – military power
Absolutism
Enlightenment
 Definition – applied reason to the human world,
not just the natural world
 Results – stimulated religious tolerance + fueled
democratic revolutions around the world (American
Revolution, French Revolution, and Latin
American Revolutions)
Thomas Hobbes
 Wrote Leviathan
 State of nature – people are evil
 Social Contract – people give up nature and form
governments to control them (absolute
monarchs)
John Locke
 Wrote Two Treatises on Government
 Power to rule comes from the people
 Monarchs are not chosen by God
 Social Contract – people form governments to
protect their rights (life, liberty, and property)
Montesquieu
 Wrote The Spirit of the Laws
 Separation of powers
 Checks and balances
Rousseau
 Wrote The Social Contract
 Government is a contract between people and
rulers
 General Will – majority rules
Voltaire
 Separation of church and state
 Freedom of speech