Download The Scientific Revolution Causes of the Scientific Revolution The

Causes of the Scientific Revolution

The voyages of discovery
and colonization

Ancient & Medieval works
translated into Latin, then
vernacular languages

New inventions &
institutions that
promoted sharing of
knowledge
Aristotle
Old Belief: the world is flat,
covered by a bowl above
 New Theory: Geocentric Theory –
the world is round, and is the
center of the universe
 Findings: Uses logical reasoning
 Reactions: affirms religious
teachings
 Impact: theories last for over 1,000
years

Nicolaus Copernicus
Old Belief: Geocentric theory
 New Theory: Heliocentric Theory – the
sun is at the center of the universe
 Findings: Maps the sky for 20 years
 Reactions: Disbelief and outrage – “this
goes against the church’s teachings!”
 Impact: Father of modern Astronomy

Tycho Brahe & Johannes Kepler
Old Belief: Geocentric theory (perfectly
circular orbits, universe never changes)
 New Theory: Geo-Heliocentric theory,
elliptical orbits, universe is changing
 Findings: View a supernova, use
complex mathematics to prove theory
 Reactions: Disbelief
 Impact: No credit until after death

Galileo Galilei





Old Belief: Geocentric theory, universe is
perfect & unchanging
New Belief: Universe is imperfect &
changing
Findings: Creates telescope to view the
heavens
Reactions: Attacked by the Inquisition –
spends rest of life under house arrest
Impact: Discovery of Jupiter’s moons, sun
spots, and visual proof of Helocentricity
Isaac Newton
Old Belief: Geocentric theory, spirits
control the movement of heavenly
bodies
 New Belief: Heliocentric theory, gravity
 Findings: Complex mathematics prove
Newton’s “3 laws”
 Reactions: wide-spread acceptance
 Impact: Father of engineering and
physics

Rene Descartes
Old Belief: Math and philosophy
should be separate sciences
 New Belief:

 Math and philosophy can be used
together to do amazing things
 Everything should be questioned
Findings: Cartesian coordinates, no
limits to God’s creation
 Reactions: Math was controversial,
but logical reasoning was supported
 Impact: Father of Geometry and
Western Philosophy

Francis Bacon





Old Belief: logic and reason are
sufficient to prove a scientific
belief
New Belief: experimentation is
necessary to prove a theory
Findings: creates the Scientific
Method
Reactions: ignored by Queen
Elizabeth, but knighted by James I
Impact: father of “empiricism” –
knowledge can only come from
experimentation
Galen of Pergamum





Old Belief: Body is controlled by spirits and
humors
New Belief: Body can be understood
through examination
Findings: Dissection of animals to learn
about human body
Reactions: Acceptance – God made all of
us after all
Impact: Founder of anatomy – theories
untested for over 1,000 years!
Andreas Vesalius
Old Belief: Dissection of bodies is a
sin
 New Belief: Human dissection is
essential to medicine
 Findings: Dissected human corpses
to prove theories
 Reactions: Acceptance – can’t argue
with physical evidence
 Impact: Founder of modern science
of anatomy and physiology

William Harvey
Old Belief: Food is turned into blood in
the heart
 New Belief: The heart constantly
recycles the same blood
 Findings: Observed a still-beating heart
 Reactions: Many unwilling to accept his
theories
 Impact: Father of physiology – how the
body works •Capacity of heart =1.5 ounces

•Each pump = , 1/8 of blood expelled.
•Estimates 1/6 oz. of blood went through heart each pump
•Estimates heart beats 1000 times every 30 mins
•This would require 10 pounds 6 ounces of blood to be
created in 30 mins
•Liver would have to produce 540 pounds of blood in a day.