Scientific Revolution Timeline

Ptolemy who was an astronomer stated that Earth was the center of the universe. The sun and the other planets moved around the earth according to Ptolemy. This theory was called the geocentric or “Earth - Centered theory. This theory was what many people believed until the 1500s when Copernicus had another idea.

He was an English philosopher and scientist of the 1200s. As monk and well educated man, he was viewed as a leading scholar of his time. Bacon was one of the first to favor a system of scientific experimentation instead of religious and ancient beliefs. In many ways he was one of the leaders of the scientific revolution and changed the way people thought about the world. Bacon showed people that the mysteries of nature could be found with science and math.

These men that were mentioned were the main reason why the Scientific Revolution happened. Without the printing press these men would not have gotten their ideas out to the world. With the printing press, knowledge was much more easily spread. Also when making a copy of a document by hand it was very expensive. The printing press made it easier and inexpensive. The printing press gave the documents of work done by these men to people and showed them that math and science can help prove ideas.

Polish scientist Nicolaus Copernicus developed the heliocentric (sun centered theory). When he published this idea in 1543 people rejected it. The church was very angry with Copernicus and his ideas. They banned his ideas after his death and were not allowed to be read for three centuries.This was a huge event in the revolution. It showed people that curiosity can change the world. Copernicus did not have the instruments or the math to prove his theory. That is were Kepler and Galilei came in.

This Flemish Scientist discovered modern anatomy. In 1543, Vesalius published a seven-volume book called “On the Fabric of the Human Body.” This book overthrew all the misconceptions people learned from ancient and religious beliefs about anatomy. It showed people all the components of the body. This book most likely was a huge influence on health care, because now that people knew about all the parts in the body and how they function, doctors are more aware of how to help people.

This German astronomer discovered the major laws of planetary motion. He was a great mathematician who used models, observations, and math to test the heliocentric idea. Kepler’s work supported Copernicus’ heliocentric idea and turned the it into a dynamic universe, with the sun actively pushing the planets around in non-circular orbits. Kepler showed people that Copernicus' theory was correct. He also showed people that if people used math and science they could prove their work was correct.

This English philosopher and scientist had similar ideas to Descartes. Bacon believed that ideas could only be proven through observation. He believed that no assumption could be made without the proof of a repeatable experiment. In 1620 Bacon published a book, “Novum Organum" that showed this new system of knowledge. Francis Bacon was the engine of the revolution without his belief that assumptions should be proven with science, our world would not be were it is today in development.

This English physician became the first to document the understanding of blood circulation. Harvey studied blood circulation by doing science experiments. He found how blood moves through veins and arteries and learned how the heart works. In 1628 Harvey published his findings in a book. Harvey showed people how the heart and blood work throughout the body. People just assumed ancient beliefs were right. Although because of Harvey doctors could understand what is going on in your body.

The Italian scientist read about a dutch item that made distant objects seem larger. Based on this knowledge he made a telescope and began studying the heavens. Galileo sketched the sights that he saw through his telescope to argue that the universe does not revolve around Earth. When he published his findings in 1632, many scholars who still supported Ptolemy’s idea refused to accept his findings. He showed people that even though his ideas went against peoples beliefs, he still proved facts.

The French philosopher and mathematician was a leader of the Scientific Revolution. His ideas led to great achievements in math, science, and philosophy. Descartes published his book, "Discourse on Method" in 1637, on his belief that all assumptions had to be proven on the basis of known facts. Without this man's curiosity our world would still believe in ancient beliefs and would never use math or science to find facts. Although because of this revolution our world is not such a mystery to us.

This English-Irish scientist helped form the modern science of chemistry. In 1662, Boyle showed that temperature and pressure affect the space that a gas obtains. Boyle transformed chemistry from a field of alchemy to a field based on measurement. He showed people that we can solve the mystery of the world with measurement through chemistry.

This German thinker developed calculus, a new branch of mathematics. Isaac Newton also developed calculus around the same time. Although these two worked on it separately. Leibnitz and Newton created a branch of math to help them understand things about the world. Without this type of math we would never truly know if what we believe is true. Calculus is taught to students all over the world. It is helpful and in jobs therefore we owe it all to the inventors of calculus Leibniz's and Newton's.

This Dutch Scientist used the microscope which was invented in the 1500s, to discover bacteria. He wrote about the bacteria and protozoa that were never seen before by the human eye.The first representation of bacteria is to be found in a drawing by Leeuwenhoek in 1683. Leeuwenhoek paved the way for the sciences of bacteriology and protozoology.

This English scientist is known as one of the greatest scientist in history. He proposed the law of universal gravitation, explained the laws of motion and developed a mathematical way to measure motion. Newton was a curious man and that led to his success. Even today people use Newton’s laws of motion and gravitation in the development of seat belts and space travel. If people were not curious we would still rely on ancient ideas for information and our world would not be as successful.

This English chemist in 1774 was the first to discover the element of oxygen. Not only did he discover oxygen he discovered 9 more gases. He was a very smart man and his curiosity taught people that they can invent and find new things in the world. They do not have to believe the ancient ideas they need to go out and prove it for themselves.

This French scientist was another man who revolutionized chemistry. He named the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. He named oxygen in 1779. Similarly to Priestley, he showed people that they can prove the mysteries of world, they should not assume ideas are right if they do not test it. It is important to know about gases and elements because it is apart of our life. Therefore Antoine Lavoisier and Joseph Priestley, have given us these elements.