Revolution & EnlightenmentWorld History chapter 10

Key Developments Ideas & inventions of the scientific rev. &

enlightenment paved the way for a modern worldview based on rationalism & secularism Rationalism: belief that human reason is the chief source

of knowledge Secularism: rejection of Religion as the only source of

knowledge about the universe British colonies in North American rebelled and

formed the United States, a nation founded on Enlightenment ideas

Impact on Your Lives Have you learned the scientific method? It was

developed during the Sci. Revolution! Enlightenment philosophers championed the

natural rights of humans, setting the stage for the rise of Democracy

Other ideas from the Enlightenment strongly influenced the Founding Fathers and serve as the backbone of the American system of government

Section1: The Scientific

RevolutionMain Idea: The scientific revolution gave Europeans a new way to view

the human races’ place in the universe.

Revolution in Astronomy Ptolemaic System

Ptolemy was an ancient Greek/Egyptian astronomer who lived in the 2nd century CE

Geocentric model of the universe

Geo = Earth Centric = center

Ptolemaic System Planet Earth is at the

center of the universe and does not move

Universe is a series of concentric spheres

Developed during the Middle Ages (1100-1500 CE)

Nicholas Copernicus Polish mathematician Published On the

Revolution of Heavenly Spheres in 1543 Argued Ptolemaic system

was too complex Proposed a heliocentric

model of the universe Helio = sun

Argued the perceived movement of the sun was really the Earth rotating on its axis and moving on its orbit around the sun

Johannes Kepler

German mathematician Expanded upon Copernicus’ research & developed laws of

planetary motion The sun IS the center of the universe The orbits of planets around the sun were an ellipse (egg)

Galileo Galilei Italian astronomer & mathematician 1st European to make regular observations

with a telescope Mountains on the moon Four moons revolving around Jupiter Sunspots Heavenly bodies were made of substances

similar to those found on Earth, not light!

Galileo & the Catholic Church Ordered to abandon

the Copernican model Contradicted the

teachings of the Church & the Bible

Galileo was put on trial and found guilty of heresy & disobedience

Sir Isaac Newton English mathematician Three Laws of Planetary Motion Universal Law of Gravitation

Every object in the universe is attracted to every other object by a force called gravity

Saw the universe as a huge machine operating according to natural laws

This idea dominated the modern worldview until the mid 20th century

Chemistry & Medicine During the Middle

Ages experts still relied on the work of 2nd century Greek Galen

He used animal dissection to develop his ideas of human anatomy – and they were often wrong!

Andreas Vesalius Published On the Fabric of the Human

Body in 1543 His discoveries made by dissecting human

cadavers Detailed observations of organs and structure of

the human body Overturned many of Galen’s theories, but

still believed different types of blood flowed through veins & arteries

William Harvey On the Motion of the

Heart and Blood (1628)

Heart was the beginning point for circulation of blood in the body

The same blood flows through veins & arteries

Blood makes a complete circuit through the body before returning to the heart

Beginnings of Chemistry

Robert Boyle Pioneer in controlled experiments Studied the properties of gasses: Boyle’s Law

Antoine Lavoisier Developed a system of naming elements Regarded as the father of modern chemistry

Margaret Cavendish One of the most

prominent female scientists of the 1600s

Critical of the belief that humans were masters of nature through scientific knowledge

Women & Science in Germany Between 1650-1710 nearly 15% of all German

astronomers were female Trained by their husbands and fathers at family

observatories Maria Winkleman: most famous German female

astronomer Despite her academic credentials she was denied

a teaching position at the Berlin Academy b/c they feared hiring a woman would set a bad example

Rene Descartes & Reason 17th century French

philosopher Considered the father of

rationalism Rationalism: belief that

reason is the main source of human knowledge; Our ability to think and reason through problems allows the human race to acquire knowledge

Descartes Famous Principles Separation of mind and matter

Matter is dead, & could be studied using reason Matter was separate from humans

The one fact that is true beyond any doubt: our own existence!

Emphasized the power of human thought “I THINK, THEREFORE I AM!”

The Scientific Method Developed by Englishman

Francis Bacon (mmmm…bacon!)

Systematic procedure for collecting and analyzing evidence Do NOT rely on the ideas

of ancients Carefully organized

experiments would lead to the development of correct principles

Section 2: The Enlightenment

Main Idea: 18th Century philosophers used the ideas of the Scientific Revolution to

reexamine all aspect of life…especially the role of government and the rights of human

beings

What is the Enlightenment?? An 18th century philosophical (ideas!)

movement based on the use of: Reason Discoveries of the Scientific Revolution Scientific Method

In order to reexamine all aspects of life and society in order to create a better world!

Isaac Newton’s Influence Newton’s Laws (gravity, motion) showed

that the physical world is like a giant machine operating under fixed laws

Intellectuals (deep thinkers!) of the Enlightenment sought the laws that govern human society

John Locke’s Influence Tabula Rasa (blank

mind) People become who

they are through experience

Through our senses Through our thoughts Through our emotions

John Locke’s Influence If people were exposed to the right

experiences then they could be changed, creating a new & better society

Led to the belief that people could discover the natural laws that all should follow in order to produce the ideal society

What is a philosophe?? Nickname for the intellectuals of the

Enlightenment (French term for philosopher)

Came mostly from the nobility & middle class Writers Professors Journalists Economists Social reformers

An International Movement Englishmen provided the philosophical

inspiration for the Enlightenment, but… French philosophes influenced intellectuals

across Europe and truly created a movement that changed the Western World

Movement evolved over the span of a century Rational criticism should be applied to all areas

of life, including religion & politics

Baron de Montesquieu Used the scientific

method to find the natural laws governing society & politics

Published his study, The Spirit of the Laws, in 1748

Montesquieu’s Influence The most effective govt’s function b/c of a

separation of powers A system of checks & balances prevents any

one person or branch from gaining too much power

Montesquieu’s Influence 3 branches of Gov’t:

Executive (enforce laws) Legislative (make laws) Judicial (interpret laws)

In the United States: Executive = President Legislative = Congress Judicial = Supreme Court

Voltaire: Greatest of the Enlightenment

Wrote endlessly! Novels Plays Letters Essays

Best known for: Criticism of Christianity Belief in religious toleration

Voltaire & Religion Treatise on Toleration, 1763

Main Point: “all men are brothers under God.”

Champion of religions philosophy Deism: Based on reason & natural law Viewed the universe as a clock:

God created it Set it in motion Allows it to run according to natural laws WITHOUT His

influence

Denis Diderot Most lasting contribution

to the Enlightenment was editing the 28 volume Encyclopedia

His goal with this collection of knowledge was to, “change the general way of thinking.”

Diderot’s Lasting Influence Encyclopedia was sold to doctors, lawyers,

clergymen, teachers, & other members of the nobility & middle class

This allowed the ideas of the Enlightenment to spread all over Europe Religious toleration Changes in the structure of the legal & political

systems, as well as society as a whole

The Foundation of Modern Economics Physiocrats: a French group dedicated to discovering

the natural economic laws governing society If people were free to go after their own economic self

interest, all of society would benefit The State, then, should not impose any regulations on

the economy. The gov’t should leave the economy alone!

This is known by the French terms laissez-faire Meaning: to “let the people do what they want” “Hands-off” economics

Adam Smith: America’s Economic Inspiration

Wrote the best interpretation of laissez-faire economics with Wealth of Nations , 1776

He assigned only 3 roles to the government:

Protect citizens from invasion – Maintain an army

Protect citizens from injustice – Maintain the police

Keep up w/ public works & infrastructure projects too expensive for private individuals

Roads, bridges, canals, dams, etc.

Cesare Beccaria & Justice Old Justice: cruel

punishments intended to deter future crime

Beccaria’s Justice: should not excessive in its brutality

Opposed to capital punishment

(death sentence)

Jean Jacques Rousseau The Social Contract, 1762 Through a SOCIAL

CONTRACT, and entire society agrees to be governed by the GENERAL WILL

The “general will” represents what is best for the entire society

What are some examples of laws that govern our lives that protect the safety of all members of our community?

Women’s Rights: Mary Wollstonecraft Old Argument: women’s

natural ways made them inferior to men, therefore it was necessary for males to dominate females

Mary’s Argument: A Vindication of the Rights of Women, 1792

Mary’s Two Main Points #1: The arbitrary

power of men over women is as wrong as the arbitrary power of monarchs over their subjects!

#2: Enlightenment is based on the ideal that all humans have the power to reason. Because women are able to reason they should have the same rights as men!

The Growth of Reading Both the amount of items being published &

the number of readers grew rapidly during the 18th century

Many new books were directed at the new reading middle class

Daily newspapers also appeared for the first time in London in 1702

The Salon Elegant drawing rooms of the wealthy elite

where guests gathered to discuss the new ideas & works of the philosophes

Brought many different classes & groups of people together

Key piece in the spread of Enlightenment ideas

The Salon