World Enlightenment

Polish astronomer who created the theory that the planets revolve around the sun, a theory which was a direct threat to the religious views of his day.

• Nicolaus Copernicus

• Heliocentric

• Johannes Kepler

• Galileo

• Francis Bacon

based on the belief that the sun is the center of the universe

• Nicolaus Copernicus

• Heliocentric

• Johannes Kepler

• Galileo

• Francis Bacon

German astronomer who showed that planets move in a particular orbit around the sun.

• Nicolaus Copernicus

• Heliocentric

• Johannes Kepler

• Galileo

• Francis Bacon

Italian astronomer whose discoveries supported those of Copernicus's. He helped create the modern scientific method.

• Nicolaus Copernicus

• Heliocentric

• Johannes Kepler

• Galileo

• Francis Bacon

Distinguished English philosopher, lawyer, statesman. Promoted rational thought.

• Nicolaus Copernicus

• Heliocentric

• Johannes Kepler

• Galileo

• Francis Bacon

French philosopher who abandoned traditional methods of thought and based his style of philosophy off of scientific observation and experiment. Has been called "the father of modern philosophy."

• Rene Descartes

• Scientific method

• Hypothesis

• Isaac Newton

• Calculus

careful, step-by-step process used to confirm findings and to prove or disprove a hypothesis

• Rene Descartes

• Scientific method

• Hypothesis

• Isaac Newton

• Calculus

an unproved theory accepted for the purposes of explaining certain facts or to provide a basis for further investigation

• Rene Descartes

• Scientific method

• Hypothesis

• Isaac Newton

• Calculus

English mathematician and physician; one of the most important figures of the Scientific Revolution. Wrote laws on motion and gravity.

• Rene Descartes

• Scientific method

• Hypothesis

• Isaac Newton

• Calculus

a branch of mathematics in which calculations are made using special symbolic notations, developed by Isaac Newton

• Rene Descartes

• Scientific method

• Hypothesis

• Isaac Newton

• Calculus