The Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution occurred from the building blocks of previous eras of Europe. Most of these have already been touched on in class and in prior Internet links in the Feudalism section. To review, the following events made it possible for these two eras to come about.
The intellectual growth and encouragement of education of the Renaissance pushed men back into the areas of science and math. Through study and modern inventions, prior theories and experiments could be pushed to new heights. On the same topics of education, the growth of the University stimulated the minds of Europe. Education begets education. The more scholarly a society is, the more advancements can come about.
The decay of the church's authority brought about the ability to grow outside of the policies of the church. Prior to the Renaissance and the Reformation, men could and would be punished for theories outside the church. For example, Copernicus proved that the earth is not at the center of the universe. The church said it was because God wished it to be. Copernicus was almost burned at the stake because of this belief. Martin Luther, the Renaissance, and the Black Plague helped push this attitude to the church.
New inventions also brought about the ability to bring about the Scientific Revolution. A few of the major inventions are:
Telescope |
Barometer |
Thermometer |
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Pendulum |
Clock |
Microscope |
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Air Pump |
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Key Men of the Enlightenment:
Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)
Charted 1000's of stars accurately
Improved the methods of accuracy
Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)
Studied Planetary Motion
Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543)
Proved that the sun, not the earth is at the center of the universe
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
Laws of Falling Bodies
With telescopes studied lunar craters
With telescopes found 4 moons on Jupiter
Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
Laws of Motion
1. Inertia
2. Action-Reaction
3. Laws of Acceleration
The Enlightenment opened itself up because of the Scientific Revolution. The reason why this is so is because of the basic principles that the Enlightenment and its men promoted. First researchers of the Enlightenment should and could use natural science to examine all aspects of life. Next, the scientific method was encouraged to be used as the standard way of conducting any type of experiment in the natural world. Last, the research be it a failure or a success, can produce and promote the advancement of society.
The most important contribution of the Enlightenment was the inspiration these and many minor authors to the American Revolution and also the French Revolution in the late 18th century. Without the work of these men, our Founding Fathers would not have had inspiration or ideas of how to frame our government.
Great Men of the Enlightenment
John
Locke (1632-1704) Famous For: Blank Slate Theory/Natural Rights of
Man (Life, Liberty, Property)
Pierre
Bayle (1647-1706) Famous For: Skeptical Thinking
Voltaire
(1694-1778) Famous For: Opposing Religion/ The Attitude of the Enlightenment
Montesquieu
(1689-1755) Famous For: Spirit of the Laws/Historical Value of Governments
and their types
Denis
Diderot (1713-1784) Famous For: L'Encyclopedie, The Achievements of
Human Kind