Section 1: Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment
Terms
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- Scientific Revolution
- period of change when scientists and philosophers challenged old ideas based on spirit of the Renaissance
- Nicolaus Copernicus
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mid 1500's
Polish scholar
universe was heliocentric, not geocentric
based on mathematical formulas - Galileo Gallilei
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early 1600's
Italian astronomer
support the heiocentric theory by use of a telescope and studies of the planets and heavenly bodies
-threatened church teachings
-was put on trial and when faced with death was forced to retract his ideas - Isaac Newton
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Enlish Scholar
built on the knowledge of Copernicus and Galileo, used mathematiocs to prove the sxistence of a force that kept planest in their orbits
Found the force of gravity, force tha tmade objects fall toward Earth, theorize dhtat nature follows uniform laws - Scientific Method
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1600's
experimentation and ovservation rather than on past authorities - Rene Descartes
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Frenchman
challenged the idea that new knowledge shouldbe made to fit existing tradition ideas
-believed that reason rahter than tradition should be the way to discover truth - natural law
- laws that govern human behavior by applying the scientific method of investigation and voservation, shcolars thought that they could solve the problems of society
- Enlightenment
- Period of the 1700's in which people rejected traditional ideas and supported a belief in human reason
- Rationalism
- belief that logical thought can lead to truth
- John Locke
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English Thinker
late 1600's
-people possess natural rights
*life, liberty, property
-people form governments to protect rights
-if governments fail, people can overthrow them - Baron de Montesquieu
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French Thinker
late 1700's
-powers of government should be separated into three branches: legislative, executive and judicial
-separtaion of powers would prevent tyranny, create system of checks and balances - Voltaire
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French thnker
1700's
-free speech
-used sharp wit to criticize French government and the Catholic Church for their faillure to permit relkigious teloertaion and intellectual freedom - Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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French philosopher
1700's
-"The Social Contract" - believed people were naturally good, but corrupted by evils of society, such as unequal distribution of property
-will of the majority, general will- majority should always work for the greater good - Enlightened Despots
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monarchs who accepted Enlightenment ideas
-absolute powers who used thier power to reform society - Maria Theresa
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Austrian Ruler
1700's
-improved tax system by forcing nobles and clergy to pay taxes
-made primary education available to children in her kingdom - Jospeh II
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Maria Theresa's son
-most radical despot
-modernized Austria's government
-chose officials for talents, not status
-practiced religious toleration, ended censorship, abolished serfdom - Catherine the Great
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Empress of Russia
1762- ?
-asked advice of nobles, free peasants, townspeople
-built schools and hospitals
-promoted education of women, extended religious teloerance