The Scientific Revolution

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The Scientific Revolution

Before the Renaissance, Europeans experienced one of the most turbulent periods in History. The Middle Ages, or medieval period, encompassed a great deal of instability and fear for many people. The Church emerged as the central power in Europe and began to dominate every facet of daily live. Most people struggled to find answers through the Church, which explained that all occurrences in life were the work of God (rainfall, earthquakes, etc.) and could not be understood further. However, some men challenged this traditional source of knowledge, beginning what became known as the scientific revolution. During the scientific revolution, men such as Galileo Galilei, René Descartes, and Isaac Newton discovered new theories about nature that challenged traditional beliefs and lessened the influence of Aristotle on traditional learning.

As the Middle Ages eventually came to an end, the Renaissance emerged as a period of new learning. People began to study ancient Roman texts, Greek works, and there was a new appreciation for knowledge. Paintings began to focus more on nature and the human form rather than God and the scripture. Many Europeans became more independent of the Church, beginning to rely on rational thinking and logic instead of blindly accepting the Church’s word. This overall change in thought is due in part to the scientific revolution. During the Renaissance, there were advancements in art, architecture, mathematics, science, and more. It was at this point that the scientific revolution began, primarily with the work of Galileo Galilei.

Galileo was born in Pisa during the year 1564. When he was about eight years old, his family moved to Florence where he was educated as a child before retu...

... middle of paper ...

...founding modern philosophy. Newton created the foundation of modern physics with his publication of Principa. All three of these scientists had a monumental impact on the way people viewed the universe, and their teachings continue to be highly regarded today.

Works Cited

"Galileo's Discoveries - 400th Anniversary." Galileo's Discoveries - 400th Anniversary. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.

Grayling, A. C. Descartes: The Life and Times of a Genius. New York: Walker &, 2006. Print.

Heilbron, J. L. Galileo. New York: Oxford UP, 2010. Print.

"Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy." Descartes, Rene []. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2014.

Newton, Isaac. Philosophi Naturalis Principia Mathematica. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

"Pari Center for New Learning." PCNL Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.

"René Descartes - Biography." René Descartes. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.

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