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1537
Nicolaus Copernicus
formulated a model of the universe that placed the Sun rather than Earth at its center -
Francis Bacon
his philosophy of science. He argued that scientific knowledge is obtained after making observations and then utilizing inductive reasoning to interpret the observations. -
Galileo Galilei
pioneered the experimental scientific method and was the first to use a refracting telescope to make important astronomical discoveries -
Rene Descartes
he invented analytic geometry, a method of solving geometric problems algebraically and algebraic problems geometrically -
Isaac Newton
his formulation of the three laws of motion—the basic principles of modern physics -
John Locke
pioneered the ideas of natural law, social contract, religious toleration, and the right to revolution -
Montesquieu
French political philosopher Montesquieu was best known for The Spirit of Laws (1748), one of the great works in the history of political theory and of jurisprudence. -
Denis Diderot
Diderot's major work is l'Encyclopédie, which still is a monument of the French Enlightenment, representing the standard of scholarly knowledge of its time and the spirit of rationalism which pervaded 18th century thought. -
Voltaire
the fictitious Lettres philosophiques (1734) and the satirical novel Candide (1759). -
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
He is well known for his work On the Social Contract, which questioned the purpose and place of government and its responsibility for its citizens. -
James Watt
Although Watt invented and improved a number of industrial technologies, he is best remembered for his improvements to the steam engine -
Adam Smith
Smith is most famous for his 1776 book, The Wealth of Nations. -
George Washington
first American president, commander of the Continental Army, president of the Constitutional Convention, and farmer -
Thomas Jefferson
was an American Founding Father, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and the third President of the United States (1801–1809). -
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
was one of the most influential, popular and prolific composers of the classical period. He composed over 600 works, including some of the most famous and loved pieces of symphonic, chamber, operatic, and choral music. -
Maximillien Robespierre
was a leader of the French Revolution best known for spearheading the Reign of Terror. He was an important member of the Jacobin political party. -
Miguel Hidalgo
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was a Mexican Roman Catholic priest who is celebrated as "the father of Mexican independence" for his role in the War of Independence that ended Spanish colonial rule in Mexico. -
Simon Bolivar
SIMON BOLIVAR IS BEST KNOWN AS THE LIBERATOR OF MOST OF SPANISH SOUTH AMERICA. HE WAS ALSO A REVOLUTION- ARY THINKER WHO TRIED TO ADAPT DEMOCRATIC IDEAS AND SOCIAL REFORMS TO NATIONS HE LIBERATED. SIMON BOLIVAR (1783–1830) led the successful effort to make South America independent from Spain