EUH - Scientific Revolution (Lesson)
Scientific Revolution
Introduction
Europeans brought back many types of new information based on their experiences and findings overseas. As a result, Europeans became more interested in science and how the world worked. Scientists studied rocks and fossils that were obtained from different voyages and regions around the world. It was during this time scientists also studied physics, biology, human anatomy, mathematics, philosophy, and astronomy. These changes led to a new era of thought and reasoning based on science. This new period was known as the Scientific Revolution and it completely changed Europe in the 16th-19th centuries. The same ideas that fueled the Renaissance led scientists to question traditional beliefs about the workings of the universe. The most prominent scientists of this time include: Copernicus, Galileo, Isaac Newton, and Charles Darwin.
Click on the arrows below to view an image of each of the scientists listed, plus an image of something associated with one of their scientific achievements.
The Scientific Revolution
The Scientific Revolution had a major impact on the European continent. Besides changing the way people thought about the universe, the use of the Scientific Method led to discoveries in physics, medicine, and biology. Learn more about major scientists of this time:
Nicolaus Copernicus is considered the father of modern day astronomy. In 1543, Copernicus proposed the heliocentric model of the solar system. Unlike the geocentric model, the sun was now center of the solar system and all planets revolved around the sun. He also claimed that the Earth rotated on its axis once a day and that it took one year for the Earth to revolve around the sun.
Galileo Galilei was an Italian mathematician who later adopted Copernicus's idea of the heliocentric model. In 1609, Galileo invented the telescope. His major contributions to the field of science included proving that the Earth and the planets revolved around the sun. Galileo also used his telescope to find mountains on the moon, sunspots on the sun, and four moons that revolve around Jupiter. His discoveries challenged past religious, political, and philosophical ideas. Galileo changed the way that Europeans viewed the environment with his discoveries.
Sir Isaac Newton was a mathematician and physicist from England. Newton is considered one of the most influential scientists of all time. In the early 18th century, Newton formulated the laws of motion. He also researched and expanded his ideas on gravity, forces, and the diffraction of light.
Charles Darwin was an English scientist who proposed the idea of natural selection. Natural Selection means that all organisms evolve over time. Charles Darwin spent five years on board the HMS Beagle researching and writing information in his book "The Origin of Species" that was published in 1859. His idea of natural selection was very controversial and went against the teachings of the church.
Review
Review your terms for this lesson by completing the activity below.
In addition to the major changes in the knowledge Europeans had about the rest of the world during the Age of Exploration, Europeans were also learning about the dramatic changes in scientific knowledge of the Earth in the 16th-19th centuries. Scientific geniuses like Copernicus, Galileo and Isaac Newton investigated, experimented and led the way through the era known as the Scientific Revolution.
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