Megan H

Nicolaus Copernicus

1543

01 - The center of the Earth is not the center of the Universe, only of Earth's gravity and of the lunar sphere.
02 - The Sun is fixed and all other spheres revolve around the Sun. ...
03 - Earth has more than one motion, turning on its axis and moving in a spherical orbit around the sun.

Francis Bacon

1603

devised a method whereby scientists set up experiments to manipulate nature and attempt to prove their hypotheses wrong, helping define the nature of science and the scientific method, He also was motivational to scientists as he set an intellectual tone and helped create an environment encouraging scientific work.

Galileo Galilei

1610

Observations of the Moon and its phases and features.
Observations of the moons of Jupiter.
His discovery and description of the rings of Saturn.

Rene Descartes

1641

in Dioptrics he derived the law of refraction, in Meteorology he explained the rainbow, and in Geometry he gave an exposition of his analytic geometry.

Isaac Newton

1666

recognized the three laws of motion, discovered gravity, and co-developed calculus.

John Locke

1679

1. Social contract
2. Religion toleration
3. The right to revolution

Montesquieu

1748

1. The separation of powers
2. The ending of slavery
3. The preservation of civil liberties and the law.

Denis Diderot

1751

Publication of Encyclopedia
Explored all human knowledge
Provided readers with a deep analysis of nearly all aspects of human existence.

Jean-Jacques Roussea

1762

Contributed to the ideas that would lead eventually to the French Revolution.
18th century most important political thinkers.
Most important work on political theory, The Social Contract.

Voltaire

1763

Attacked the Catholic Church and advocated freedom of religion.
Freedom of expression
Separation of church and state

James Watt

1764

Invented different types of steam engine that helped start the Industrial Revolution.
Created compass and scale
Scottish inventor and chemist

Adam Smith

1776

Smith attacked government intervention in the economy.
Provided a blueprint for free markets and free trade.
The theory of the invisible hand.

George Washington

1776

Led the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War
First president of US
Helped create the U.S. Constitution

Thomas Jefferson

1776

Drafted the Declaration of Independence.
He founded the University of Virginia.
Jefferson succeeded Benjamin Franklin as minister to France.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

1786

Wrote several successful operas
Composed a number of symphonies and sonatas
He created a new path and style of music that did not follow the idea of "divine inspiration" or tradition.

Maximillien Robespierre

1789

Served as president of the National Convention and on the Committee of Public Safety.
Presided over the influential Jacobin Club
A radical democrat and key figure in the French Revolution.

Miguel Hidalgo

1810

Uttered the cry of Dolores, which put the independence movement in motion.
He managed to form an army made up of more than 40,000 people.
Known as father of Mexican independence

Simon Bolivar

1821

Engaged the services of several thousand foreign soldiers and officers.
Established a liaison with the revolutionary forces of the plains.
Encouraged the people of South America to rebel against Spanish colonial rule.