Scientific Revolution
and
Enlightenment
1450-1750
AP World History
Unit 3
Scientific Revolution
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The re-conception of the universe.
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The Ptolemaic universe.
 A motionless earth surrounded by nine spheres.
 Could not account for the movements of the planets.
 Compatible with the Christian concept of Creation.
The Copernican universe.
 The sun was the center of the universe, 1543.
 Implied that the earth was just another planet.
Science becomes the new authority and challenges the
faith for control.
Johannes Kepler (1564-1642)
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Demonstrated planetary orbits.
Scientific Revolution
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Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
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Located sunspots, moons on Jupiter, and
mountains on the moon.
Theory of velocity, falling bodies anticipated
modern law of inertia.
Tried by the Inquisition because his ideas
challenged the Papal infallibility.
Scientific Revolution
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Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
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Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy in
1686.
Mathematical explanations of laws govern
movements of bodies.
His work symbolized the scientific revolution.
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Direct observation
Mathematical reasoning
Enlightenment
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Thinkers sought natural laws that governed
human society.
Center was France.
Theory of progress was a major ideology.
Applied reason and science to society,
government, and laws.
Voltaire (1694-1778)
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Considered the father of the Enlightenment.
Religious liberty and individual freedom.
Enlightenment
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Adam Smith
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Montesquieu
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Laws of supply and demand determine price.
Checks and balance in government.
Deism
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Accepted the existence of a god.
Denied the supernatural teachings of Christianity.
“God the Clockmaker”.
Ordered the universe according to rational and
natural laws.
Enlightenment
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Impact of the Enlightenment
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Weakened the influence of organized religion.
Encouraged secular values based on reason
rather than revelation.
Subjected society to rational analysis.
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Promoted progress and prosperity.
Applied science to every day life and made
science practical.