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1543
Nicolaus Copernicus
- Copernicus placed the sun at the center of the universe, rather than the earth.
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Francis Bacon
Testing hypotheses. In order to test potential truths, or hypotheses, Bacon devised a method whereby scientists set up experiments to manipulate nature and attempt to prove their hypotheses wrong. -
Galileo Galilei
- —Galileo established experimentation, the cornerstone of modern science.
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Rene Descartes
Rene Descartes had a very important role to play in the Scientific Revolution. Through his specialty in mathematics, he was able to transform geometrical problems into algebra. Further, he established the x and y-axis in his algebraic drawings. The modern notation for exponents was also a Rene Descartes innovation. -
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton contributed significantly to the field of science over his lifetime. He invented calculus and provided a clear understanding of optics. But his most significant work had to do with forces, and specifically with the development of a universal law of gravitation and his laws of motion. -
John Locke
- Often credited as a founder of modern “liberal” thought, Locke pioneered the ideas of natural law, social contract, religious toleration, and the right to revolution that proved essential to both the American Revolution and the U.S. Constitution that followed.
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Montesquieu
Montesquieu's writings attacked the feudalistic basis of French society. He argued as Locke and Thomas Jefferson that all people were created equal. This ideal eliminated the idea of the Divine Right of Kings to Rule. If the King did not have the right to rule then the people had the right to rebel which they did. -
Denis Diderot
Diderot explored all human knowledge and provided readers with a deep analysis of nearly all aspects of human existence. -
Adam Smith
Smith was able to apply the newly established scientific method to both economics and moral philosophy. -
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Rousseau's theories of sovereignty and law had a direct influence on French revolutionaries such as Robespierre, and were blamed for some of the worst excesses of the Terror in France. -
Voltaire
Voltaire understood how Newton departed from pure rationalism and wrote a science to fit the observed world. Voltaire understood that human equality must follow empirical knowledge. You can't just theorize about the human lot; you have to observe it as well. -
James Watt
Although Watt invented and improved a number of industrial technologies, he is best remembered for his improvements to the steam engine. Watt's steam engine design incorporated two of his own inventions: the separate condenser (1765) and the parallel motion (1784). -
George Washington
He was passionate about the natural sciences, promoted new technology, and relied on scientific methods. Washington saw the value of science and scientific advancement. He studied local fossils to gain insights into natural history and promoted air ballooning technology developed in France. -
Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson promoted scientific exploration—he encouraged explorers to prepare for their journeys by training in relevant scientific fields, such as botany, land surveying, and astronomy. For Jefferson, exploration was an opportunity to expand both political and natural knowledge of North America. -
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
He perfected existing forms and, in so doing, raised the symphony, sonata, and opera to new heights. His later compositions, especially, highlight his versatility and dexterity as a musician. They also showcase his ability to convey feeling through music. -
Maximillien Robespierre
Maximilien Robespierre, the architect of the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, is overthrown and arrested by the National Convention. As the leading member of the Committee of Public Safety from 1793, Robespierre encouraged the execution, mostly by guillotine, of more than 17,000 enemies of the Revolution. -
Miguel Hidalgo
On September 16, 1810—the date now celebrated as Mexican Independence Day—Hidalgo issued the “Grito de Dolores” (“Cry of Dolores”), calling for the end of Spanish rule, for racial equality, and for redistribution of land. The speech effectively launched the Mexican War of Independence (1810–21). -
Simon Bolivar
Crisis Manager. Simón Bolivar is remembered today as the greatest leader of South American independence. Highly influenced by the examples of the United States, the French Revolution and Napoleon, he led a massive revolt against Spanish colonial rule in South America, beginning in 1810.