Unit 4: Scientific, Philosophical, and Political Developments
1648-1815
The World View Prior to the Scientific Revolution:
● Primarily religious and theological
○ Science lived in a world of religious beliefs and teachings
instead of real life examination
● Impact of the Middle Ages (14th-15th c.)
○ Growth of universities throughout Europe allowed for new
disciplines outside theology to be studied
● Impact of the Renaissance (16th c.)
○ Reintroduction of mathematical principles allowed for new
understanding of the world
● People believed in Geocentric model of the universe in which the
Earth was the center of the universe and everything spun around it
○ This was taught by the church and invented by Ptolemy during
Greek times
Scientific Revolution (1543-1687):
Renaissance/Exploration (ended 1527) -> Scientific Revolution ->
Enlightenment
● Occurs at the same time as Absolutism and Constitutionalism, after
Renaissance and Age of Exploration
1. “Science” attracted attention and patronage of governments
(monarchs)
a. Science=Power
, 2. Science becomes a part of high culture (nobles and monarchs)
in Europe
a. Wealthy will use science to expand their advantage in
trade and commerce
b. Monarchs use science to advance military
3. Conflict between religion and science
a. Church way of life/thinking of universe was threatened by
scientific discoveries
b. Church is being threatened by Protestants and Scientists
4. Scientific Revolution changes the concept of universe and
“man’s place in it.”
a. Changed everything, a fundamental break from traditions
of past
Geocentric vs Heliocentric Models
● Since grecoroman times people believed Earth is center of universe
and the sun and planets revolve around earth, geocentric theory.
○ “God created human as center of the universe.”
● Sun is the center and earth revolves around it, heliocentric theory
hypothesized by Copernicus.
● Astrology - Superstition by Ptolemy during grecoroman times,
geocentric and zodiac signs.
● Astronomy - Study of space
○ Copernicus - Hypothesizes
○ Kepler - Mathematical proofs
○ Galileo - Empiricism or basing off of observations and
experiments
1648-1815
The World View Prior to the Scientific Revolution:
● Primarily religious and theological
○ Science lived in a world of religious beliefs and teachings
instead of real life examination
● Impact of the Middle Ages (14th-15th c.)
○ Growth of universities throughout Europe allowed for new
disciplines outside theology to be studied
● Impact of the Renaissance (16th c.)
○ Reintroduction of mathematical principles allowed for new
understanding of the world
● People believed in Geocentric model of the universe in which the
Earth was the center of the universe and everything spun around it
○ This was taught by the church and invented by Ptolemy during
Greek times
Scientific Revolution (1543-1687):
Renaissance/Exploration (ended 1527) -> Scientific Revolution ->
Enlightenment
● Occurs at the same time as Absolutism and Constitutionalism, after
Renaissance and Age of Exploration
1. “Science” attracted attention and patronage of governments
(monarchs)
a. Science=Power
, 2. Science becomes a part of high culture (nobles and monarchs)
in Europe
a. Wealthy will use science to expand their advantage in
trade and commerce
b. Monarchs use science to advance military
3. Conflict between religion and science
a. Church way of life/thinking of universe was threatened by
scientific discoveries
b. Church is being threatened by Protestants and Scientists
4. Scientific Revolution changes the concept of universe and
“man’s place in it.”
a. Changed everything, a fundamental break from traditions
of past
Geocentric vs Heliocentric Models
● Since grecoroman times people believed Earth is center of universe
and the sun and planets revolve around earth, geocentric theory.
○ “God created human as center of the universe.”
● Sun is the center and earth revolves around it, heliocentric theory
hypothesized by Copernicus.
● Astrology - Superstition by Ptolemy during grecoroman times,
geocentric and zodiac signs.
● Astronomy - Study of space
○ Copernicus - Hypothesizes
○ Kepler - Mathematical proofs
○ Galileo - Empiricism or basing off of observations and
experiments
