Scientific Revolution

Some Middle Ages scholars sought answers about the natural world from the church. In the mid-1500s, others began to think in new ways.

• Scholars relied on traditional authorities for beliefs about structure of universe

• Geocentric theory, Aristotle– Earth center of universe– Sun, moon, planets revolved

around earth• Catholic Church was

authority for European intellectuals

The Old View• Scholars began to challenge

traditional authorities, 1500s• Scientific Revolution, new

way of thinking• Posed theories, developed

procedures to test ideas• Why open to new ideas?

– Exploration – New lands, new people, new

animals

New Viewpoints

Dawn of Modern Science

Dawn of Modern ScienceAncient scholars could provide no information about

new lands, people, animals

• Age of Exploration led scientists to study natural world more closely

• Other things to be discovered, things unknown to ancients

• Navigators needed more accurate instruments, geographic knowledge

• Scientists examined natural world, found it did not match ancient beliefs, Catholic teachings

• Francis Bacon - experimentation to gain scientific knowledge

• Rene Descartes –

believed everything should be doubted until proved by reason

• Relied on math, logic

• Ideas of both continue to influence modern scientific methods

Scientific Method Scholars

• Scientific Method

• Identify problem

• Form hypothesis

• Perform experiments to test hypothesis

• Record results

• Analyze results, form conclusion

New Approach to Investigation

The Scientific Method

Early scientists• Began to explain complexities of solar system, limits of physical world• Nicolaus Copernicus, Polish astronomer, among first

Copernicus’ theory• Idea of earth orbiting sun was not completely new• Copernicus developed detailed mathematical explanation of process• Was first scientist to create complete model of solar system

Copernicus• Found geocentric theory of movement of sun, moon, planets not accurate• Concluded sun, not earth, near center of solar system• Heliocentric theory - earth revolves around sun

Discoveries in Astronomy, Physics, and Math

Weaknesses of theory

• Mathematical formulas did not predict positions of planets well

• Copernicus did not want to be ridiculed for weaknesses

• Died 1543 after work published, other scientists expanded on ideas

On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres

• Copernicus’ famous book not published until last year of his life

• Knew church would oppose work

• Work contradicted teachings of the Catholic Church

Kepler • German Scientist - Used data from Danish astronomer

Brahe to test Copernicus’s hypothesis using mathematical formulas

• Protestant - did not fear challenging the Catholic church

• Solved main problem of Copernican theory

• Found Copernicus assumption that planets orbited in circle untrue

• Proved planets orbited in oval pattern, ellipse

• Proved heliocentric theory correct

More support• Italian scientist Galileo Galilei • Built first telescope used for

astronomy• Scanned heavens beginning in

1609

Starry Messenger

• Galileo described discoveries

• Craters on moon, sunspots

• Saturn, moons of Jupiter

• Milky Way made up of stars

Discoveries in Astronomy, Physics, and Math

Galileo’s Theories• Brought him into direct conflict with the church• Church leaders pressured him not to support ideas of Copernicus• Dialogue concerning Two Chief World Systems, 1632, showed support

Results of Trial

Trial• Pope Urban VII ordered Galileo to Rome to stand trial before Inquisition• Church wanted to stamp out heresy, or dissenting views• Trial held, April 1633

Science and the Church

Change in science world

• Isaac Newton, English scientist

• Brought together astronomy, physics, math

• Wondered about gravity

Principia• Book explained law of universal

gravitation • Gravity affects objects on earth,

also in universe• Keeps planets in orbit

Discoveries in Astronomy, Physics, and Math

Newton’s Findings

• Newton developed calculus, new kind of math

• Used calculus to predict effects of gravity

Just as astronomers moved away from the works of ancient Greeks, other scientists used the scientific method to acquire new knowledge and make great discoveries in the fields of Biology and Chemistry.

• European Middle Ages doctors relied on Greek, Galen

• Galen’s works inaccurate

• Flemish doctor Andreas Vesalius became known for work in anatomy

Biology• Used bodies of

executed criminals for dissection

• Hired artists to produce accurate drawings

• On the Workings of the Human Body, 1543

Vesalius• English physician,

early 1600s

• Observed, explained workings of human heart

• Described blood, circulatory system functions

William Harvey

Discoveries in Biology and Chemistry

Robert Hooke

• English physician, inventor

• Used early microscope to describe appearance of plants at microscopic level

• Credited with creating the term cell

Antony van Leeuwenhoek

• Dutch scientist, 1600s

• Used interest in developing magnifying lens to invent microscope

• First to describe appearance of bacteria, red blood cells, yeast, other microorganisms

• French chemist, 1700s

• Developed methods for precise measurements

• Discovered law of Conservation of Mass, proved matter could not be created, destroyed

• Recognized, named oxygen, introduced metric system, invented first periodic table

Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier• Father of modern chemistry

• First to define element

• The Sceptical Chemist, 1661, described matter as cluster of tiny particles (now called atoms)

• Changes in matter occurred when clusters rearranged

• Boyle’s law - temperature, volume, pressure affect gases

Robert Boyle

Chemistry

Summarize

What were the major contributions made in biology and chemistry?

Answer(s): importance of anatomy and dissection; function of blood and circulatory system; invention of microscope; discovery of certain laws of matter

The church feared reason as an enemy of faith, but eventually began to embrace some of the achievements of the Scientific Revolution.

As science assumed greater significance, the question of the role of the Roman Catholic Church in a changing culture became important. While the church opposed the views of many scientists, it benefited from new discoveries that made Renaissance art and architecture possible.

• Church - most powerful institution in Europe, Middle Ages

• Primary resource for knowledge, learning

• Cathedral schools, universities trained people to run the church

Science and the Church

Science and Society

• Most scientists did not want to challenge role of Christianity

• Church explained world through inspiration

• Science explained world through logical reasoning

Conflicts

Renaissance

• Study of art, architecture not separate from study of science

• Artists learned anatomy in order to paint the body

Architecture

• Mathematics, physics crucial to great architecture

• Also used in engineering achievements of the time

Artists

• Experimented with chemistry of paints, nature of light

• Used math to create compositions of perfect balance

Science and religion

• Combined to produce great artistic achievements of Renaissance

• Most art, architecture dedicated to glory of God

Science and Art

Science and CommunityScientific Revolution established new way of

thinking about physical world

• Great advances made in astronomy, physics, biology, chemistry

• Advances influenced developments in arts, architecture

• Impact of Scientific Revolution soon would cause philosophers, scholars to wonder if reason could solve poverty, war, ignorance

Draw Conclusions

How did the Scientific Revolution have an impact beyond the realm of science?

Answer(s): led people to question the Church; inspired great artistic achievements; led to new ideas about government, religion, education, and economics.