I. Pre-Scientific Thought Patterns

Witchcraft and witch-hunts

Between 1450-1660: approximately 110,000 to trial; 60,000 executed

Widespread belief in Magic

Magic viewed as being either good (tied to the church) or bad

II. Spurs to the Scientific Revolution

Societal Changes: rising literacy, printing press, Medieval Universities, Humanism and the study of Greeks (Plato, Aristotle, Ptolemy and Democritus), the Renaissance

Proximate Changes: Trade and Expansion of Trade, practical solutions to navigation problems

III. Principles of the Revolution

Observation, Experimentation, Reliance on mathematics, Publishing results, Patronage, Diminishing power of religion to explain phenomenon

IV. Scientists

Nicholas Copernicus (1473-1543)

Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)

Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)

V. Scientific Methodology

Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

Rene Descartes (1596-1650)

Isaac Newton (1642-1727)

VI. Effect of the Revolution

not much direct change for peasants

Rich get richer

widens intellectual gap

improved navigation and artillery leads to European colonialism

decline of power of Catholic Church on intellectual matters

[102 Home] [Reading Assignments] [Lectures & Handouts] [Assignments] [Extra Credit]

[ Porter Home Page ]  [ Loudoun Campus Home Page ] [ NVCC Home Page ]