Download World HistoryEnlightenment Project The Enlightenment: A Project

World History
Enlightenment Project
The Enlightenment: A Project
This project is due on Monday, February 13th at the beginning of class. Any project not completed at
that time will lose 10 points a day. All FOUR parts of this project are worth 25 points each. Good luck!
PART I: The Scientific Revolution
For the long centuries of the Middle Ages (500-1350 AD) the canon of scientific knowledge had
experienced little change, and the Catholic Church had preserved acceptance of a system of beliefs
based on the teachings of the ancient Greeks and Romans which it had incorporated into religious
doctrine. During this period there was little scientific inquiry and experimentation. Rather, students of
the sciences simply read the works of the alleged authorities and accepted their word as truth.
However, during the Renaissance this doctrinal passivity began to change. The quest to understand the
natural world led to the revival of botany and anatomy by thinkers such as Andreas Vesalius during the
later sixteenth century.
These scientific observers were surprised to find that their conclusions did not always match up with the
accepted truths, and this finding inspired others to delve further into the study of the world around
them. Scientific study quickly extended from the earth to the heavens, and Nicolas Copernicus, upon
examining the records of the motions of heavenly bodies, soon discarded the old geocentric theory that
placed the Earth at the center of the solar system and replaced it with a heliocentric theory in which the
Earth was simply one of a number of planets orbiting the sun. Though this scheme seemed to comply
better with the astronomical records of the time, Copernicus had little direct evidence to support his
claims. Not ready to abandon traditional beliefs, the forces of tradition, in the form of the Church and
the mass of Europeans, kept the heliocentric theory from achieving full acceptance. The theory awaited
the advancement of mathematics and physics to support its claims.
Kepler proved the orbits of the planets were elliptical, but was unable to come up with an effective
model of the solar system. That was left to Galileo, who in 1630 published his Dialogue on the Two Chief
Systems of the World, in which he supported the Copernican, or heliocentric theory of the universe, and
denounced the Aristotelian system, which maintained the geocentric theory. Galileo supported his
claims with elaborate evidence derived from the study of physics.
PART I ASSIGNMENT
On your own paper, WRITE 2 PARAGRAPHS using the ACES METHOD. Each paragraph should
be at least 5 sentences long and cite evidence from the text above. These two paragraphs should:
1) EXPLAIN what the Scientific Revolution was
2) DESCRIBE the GEOCENTRIC and HELIOCENTRIC Theory
PART II: ENLIGHTENMENT THINKERS
1) Born on February 15, 1564, in Pisa, Italy, Galileo Galilei was a mathematics professor who made
pioneering observations of nature with long-lasting implications for the study of physics. He also
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Enlightenment Project
constructed a telescope and supported the Copernican theory, which supports a sun-centered
solar system. Galileo was accused twice of heresy by the church for his beliefs, and wrote books
on his ideas. He died in Arcetri, Italy, on January 8, 1642.
2) Nicolaus Copernicus was born on February 19, 1473 in Torun, Poland. Circa 1508, Copernicus
developed his own celestial model of a heliocentric planetary system. Around 1514, he shared
his findings in the Commentariolus. His second book on the topic, De revolutionibus orbium
coelestium, was banned by the Roman Catholic Church not long after his May 24, 1543 death in
Frauenburg, Poland.
3) Born on January 4, 1643, in Woolsthorpe, England, Isaac Newton was an established physicist
and mathematician, and is credited as one of the great minds of the 17th century Scientific
Revolution. With discoveries in optics, motion and mathematics, Newton developed the
principles of modern physics. In 1687, he published his most acclaimed work, Philosophiae
Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy), which has
been called the single most influential book on physics. Newton died in London on March 31,
1727.
PART II ASSIGNMENT
Use your notes and textbook to review information about the THREE THINKERS OF THE
ENLIGHTENMENT:
Earlier philosophers whose work influenced the Enlightenment included Francis Bacon, René
Descartes, John Locke, and Baruch Spinoza. The major figures of the Enlightenment
included Cesare Beccaria, Voltaire, Denis Diderot, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, David
Hume, Adam Smith, and Immanuel Kant.
You need to create a ONE PAGER for each of the 3 Enlightenment Thinkers. So you will have
one sheet of paper for each Thinker. Each one pager needs to include:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Name of Thinker
Books Written by this Thinker
Major Ideas/Accomplishments/Theories of this Thinker
PICTURE (with color) illustrating that Thinker’s Ideas
PART III: ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS
4- That levying money for or to the use of the crown by pretense of prerogative, without grant of parliament, for
longer time or in other manner than the same is or shall be granted, is illegal.
5- That it is the right of the subjects to petition the king, and all commitments and prosecutions for such
petitioning are illegal.
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Enlightenment Project
6- That the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with consent of
parliament, is against law.
7- That the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defense suitable to their conditions, and as
allowed by law.
8-That election of members of parliament ought to be free.
9- That the freedom of speech, and debates or proceedings in parliament, ought not to be impeached or
questioned in any court or place out of parliament.
10- That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments
inflicted.
11- That jurors ought to be duly impaneled and returned, and jurors which pass upon men in trials for high treason
ought to be freeholders.
12 -That all grants and promises of fines and forfeitures of particular persons before conviction are illegal and void.
13 - And that for redress of all grievances, and for the amending, strengthening, and preserving of the laws,
parliament ought to be held frequently.
PART III ASSIGNMENT
On your own paper you must:
1) Explain, IN YOUR OWN WORDS, what each of the Amendments in the English Bill of
Rights says. So, number 4-13 and explain what each amendment means.
2) You will create your own POET Bill of Rights.
You will create 10 RIGHTS that every single student has at Sidney Lanier High School.
Example – Each and every student has the right to come to school and not be bullied or
picked on.
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Enlightenment Project
PART IV: THE ENLIGHTENMENT AND ME
“Outside of the British Isles, the legacy of the Glorious Revolution and Enlightenment – especially as it
was described by John Locke, had a major impact, and even helped to inspire the American and French
Revolutions. Locke praised the Glorious Revolution and Enlightenment in his book Two Treatises on
Government and even encouraged the passing of the Bill of Rights. Locke argues that the people are
right to replace absolute kings and should declare their natural rights. According to Locke, if a
government does not protect the rights of the people – the rights to life, liberty, and property- the
people have the right to replace that government. Locke’s representation of the Enlightenment and
Glorious Revolution helped spark bloodier and more impactful revolutions in American and France. His
ideas inspired beliefs that are still held today, about the importance of individual rights and a limited
government.”
PART IV ASSIGNMENT
On your own paper you must write an essay explaining why the Enlightenment AND ITS IDEAS are
important TO YOU or to HISTORY. What did the Enlightenment INSPIRE? Your essay must include:
1) A Strong Thesis Statement
2) At least 3 paragraphs using the ACES method (you can cite evidence from this entire packet)