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100
Ptolemy
Ptolemy's theory, the Geocentric theory, was that the Earth was the center of the universe. People believed this because without modern technology, it looked like the sun orbited around the Earth, and no one could feel the earth constantly move. This did not challenge the way people thought, because it was already the normal and mainstream idea. It was significant because it was the way people thought for thousands of years. -
Period: 100 to
Scientific Revolution
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1200
Roger Bacon
Roger Bacon was a Franciscan monk who was known as a leading scholar of his time. He was one of the first people to favor scientific reasoning over the ideas and teachings of the church. This changed the way people thought because people started thinking more scientifically and starting to wonder about the validity of the ideas of the church. This was significant because it started the Scientific Revolution and was the beginning of scientific thinking. -
1439
Printing Press
The printing press made communication easier across the world, and spread information and science everywhere. it changed the way people saw the world because it greatly impacted everyone's knowledge and awareness of the new era of science upon them. It was significant because without it, it would have been much harder to spread information and news to others, and the Scientific Revolution would be much different than it was. -
1440
Printing Press
The printing press spread information ,theories, and scientific advancements all across the world. It changed the way people thought about the world because with the printing press, news of the new scientific revolution could reach everyone around the world, thus raising their awareness and ability to contribute. It is significant because without it, new theories, ideas, and breakthroughs would take much longer to reach everyone. -
1500
Copernicus
Copernicus' Heliocentric Theory, the theory that stated the Earth and other planets orbited the sun in the solar system, changed the way people thought because, up until then, people believed that the Sun orbited around the Earth. This is significant because it changed the way people thought about the solar system, and led the way to more advanced study of astronomy. -
1540
Francois Viete
Francois Viete developed the mathematical concept of algebra and contributed to the theory of equations. This changed the way people thought about the world because it introduced a new way to solve problems in math. This is significant because people would use algebra for hundreds of years after, and it probably led to breakthroughs in science and math. -
1543
Andreas Vesalius
Vesalius created a book on human anatomy that challenged past thinking and proved it was incorrect. This changed the way people thought about the world because they had a new understanding of the human body and the study of anatomy. It was significant because it led the way for more scientific studies and research regarding the human body and the study of anatomy. -
1561
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon was a believer in physical proof of ideas, instead of general assumption. He believed nothing could be proved without the use of scientific experiments. He published a book on his thinking in 1620. This changed the way people thought because before this, people believed in the teachings of the church, which were mostly assumptions. This is significant because he started a trend in questioning ideas which led to using science to prove ideas. -
1578
William Harvey
William Harvey used scientific experiments to study the circulation of blood and the human heart. This changed the way people thought about the world because not only did he use scientific experiments, a new strategy, he increased knowledge of human anatomy. This is significant because he started a trend in using scientific experiments to prove theories, and he increased knowledge of human anatomy for future research. -
Rene Descartes
Descartes had the idea that you should never assume an idea without proof or knowledge to back it up. This kind of thinking changed the way people thought about the world because he was one of the first people to think this way, setting the trend for the Scientific Revolution. This was significant to history because it led to many people challenging their ideas and starting to use scientific reasoning instead of just religious assumptions. -
Calculus
Gottfried Liebnitz and Isaac Newton both developed the mathematical concept known as calculus independently. This changed the way people thought about the world because it was a whole new concept of math that had been invented and added to knowledge and studies of mathematics. This is significant because future mathematicians and scientists would use calculus as a way to prove theories. -
Galileo Galelei
Galileo Galilei invented the telescope in the 1600s, This instrument helped to prove Copernicus' heliocentric theory. This changed the way people thought because not many people believed Copernicus' theory at first, but Galilei made it possible to prove he was right. This was significant in history because it proved the heliocentric theory, that the Earth revolves around the sun, and led to correct studies of the solar system and furthered the study of astonomy. -
Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek
Antoni discovered bacteria, which he called Animalcules, through the microscope. This changed the way people thought about the world because people were just starting to use scientific instruments, and were also learning about tiny organisms everywhere. This is significant because we had discovered an entirely new type of organism that has a big impact on our lives. -
Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle studied chemistry and showed that temperature and pressure affect the space a gas occupies in 1662. This changed the way people thought about the world because Boyle informed people about an important part of chemistry which was not before known. This is significant because his discovery led to a more detailed understanding of chemistry which led to future studies and experiments in that field using this new knowledge. -
Antoine Lavoisier
Lavoisier proved the law of conservation of matter. This states that matter cannot be destroyed or created, but it can change form. This changed the way people thought about the world because people were unaware of the laws of matter, and they were given new information on this part of chemistry. This is significant because it was a very important part of the study of chemistry, and shows that scientific reasoning provided better, useful information. -
Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley discovered the element of oxygen in 1774. This changed the way people thought about the world because people didn't know about the elements and that they were breathing in oxygen until Joseph Priestly discovered it. This is significant because it led to a better understanding of oxygen and elements in general.
