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Nicolaus Copernicus published On the Reveolutions of the Heavenly Sphere, in it, he proposed a sun-centered, model of the universe.
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Andreas Vesalius published On the Structure of the Human Body, the first accurate and detailed study of human anatomy.
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Galileo Galilei trained his new telescope on the night sky. He saw mountains on the moon, four moons circlingthe planet Jupiter, and fiery spots on the sun.
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Galileo was tried before the Inquisition. He was threatened with death unless he withdrew his "heresies", he agreed to state publicly that the Earth stood motionless at thee center of the universe.
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Descartes published Discourse on Method, in it he explains how he decided to discard all traditional authorities and search for provable knowledge.
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Thomas Hobbes published Leviathan, in it he argued that people were naturally cruel, greedy and selfish.
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Newton published Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. It explained the law of gravity and other works of the universe.
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Locke published Two Treatises of Government, in it he argued that people formed governments to protect their natural rights.
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Frederick Handel wrote Water Music for King George I.
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Daniel Defoe Robinson Crusoe, a tale about a sailor shipwrecked on a tropical island.
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Samuel Richardson published Pamela, he used a series of letters to tell a story about a servant girl.
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Frederick Handel wrote Messiah, on of his most celebrated works, it combines instruments and voices.
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Montesquieu piublished The Spirit of the Laws, in it , Montesquieu discussed government throughout history and wrote highly about Britain's limited monarchy.
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Denis Diderot published the first Encyclopedia. There was 28 volumes and his purpose was "to change the general way of thinking" by explaining the new topics of topics like government, philosophy and religion.
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Voltaire published his humorous novel, Candide. He cleverly uses the tale to expose the corruption and hypocrisy of European society.
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Jean-Jacques Rousseaumade his ideas known about government and society in The Social Contract. He thought that society placed too many limitations on people's behavior.
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Catherine the Great became empress. Early in her reign she made some limited reforms in the law and govenment.
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Wolfgang Madeus Mozart became an instant celebrity as a composer and performer, at six years old. Over the next three decades, his opras, symphonies and religious music helped define the new style of composition.
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Adam Smith published The Wealth of Nations, in it he argued that the free market should be allowed to regulate business activity.
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Wollstonecraft published A Vindication of the Rights of Women, in it she called for equal education for girls and boys.
