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Period: Feb 19, 1473 to May 24, 1543
Nicolas Copernicus Lived
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Sep 1, 1501
Copernicus starts studying at the Univ. of Padua
His time here and interaction with its humanistic scholars greatly influenced his Heliocentric theories as well as gave him his interest in astrology. He stopped studying here in the Summer of 1503. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copernicus -
Jan 1, 1543
Versalius Publishes On the Fabric of the Human Body
On the Fabric of the Human Body is a book by Veralius about his findings involving human anatomy, many of which disproving previous fallacies. Part of the book also includes him urging other physicians to dissect the human body when conducting research as he did. From
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/people/andreasvesalius.aspx -
Jan 1, 1543
On the Revolutions of the Heavnly Spheres by Copernicus published
Book by Copernicus that explains his theory that the universe is actually heliocentric (centered around the sun) as opposed to geocentric (centered around the Earth). Book was actually written for the Pope and Catholic Church so they could calculate the true date of Easter better. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_revolutionibus_orbium_coelestium
And the bit about the Calculation of Easter is from the Wester Tradition Texbook -
Period: Dec 14, 1546 to
Tycho Brahe Lived
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Period: Jan 22, 1561 to
Francis Bacon Lived
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Period: Feb 15, 1564 to
Galileo Galilei Lived
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Period: Dec 27, 1571 to
Johannes Kepler Lived
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Nov 1, 1572
Brahe Observes and Records a Supernova
In the early part of Novemeber, Brahe noticed a new bright body in the sky. He considered this a new kind of star and recorded its position in his book Stellar Nova. It was later found to be a supernova, appropriately named Tycho after the astronomer. From http://www.sciencecentric.com/news/08120378-tycho-brahe-1572-supernova-classified.html -
Jan 1, 1577
Brahe observes, records, and collects data on a Comet
In 1577, Brahe observed a comet flying around in Space. He reocrded the realtive position and trajectory of the comet and proved that it was light years away from our own moon, disproving the Aristolian idea that comets aren't real objects but illusions of the Atmosphere. From http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/brahe.html -
Period: to
René Descartes Lived
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Giordano Bruno is burned at the stake
Giordano Bruno was a philosopher know for his unorthodox beliefs and appraisal for the Copernican Model of the universe. Some of his beliefs included that the universe is infinite and has an infinite amount of planets that all having intelligent beings living on them. He was tried and executed for not recanting his statements on the state of the universe. From
http://galileo.rice.edu/chr/bruno.html -
Kepler's First 2 Laws of Planetary Motion are published
Kepler's First Two Laws of Planetary Motion are bascially geometric corelations proving his idea that planets orbit the sun in an elliptical All information from http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/kepler.html
except for the dates which are from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kepler's_laws_of_planetary_motion -
Galileo Publishes Letter to the Grand Dutchess Cristina
Galileo wrote this letter to Cristina of Lorraine in the format of an essay, It talks about Galileo's proof that the universe is, in reality, heliocentrical as shown in the Copernican model, and also states the relation of this, and many other new scientific discoveries, to the Christian Bible. This document was the source of much animosity during the Italian Inquisitian and was used as grounds to declare Galileo a heretic. From
http://history.hanover.edu/courses/excerpts/111gal2.html -
Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion is published
Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion is a mathematic proportion that correlates his idea that the planets orbit the sun in an elliptical. All information from http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/kepler.html
except for the dates which are from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kepler's_laws_of_planetary_motion -
Francis Bacon Publishes Novum Organum
In Novum Organum, Francis Bacon discusses his theories on what stops the mind from acheiving its full learning potential and his theory that empiricism (learning by doing) and using inductive reasoning (making conclusions through inferences, broad statements, and probability) is the best way to learn. From
http://www.iep.utm.edu/bacon/#SH2d
Definition of Inductive Reasoning from Oxford Dictionary -
William Harvey Publishes On the Movement of the Heart and Blood
On the Movement of the Heart and Blood is a book where it's author, William Harvey, states that instead of the heart creating new blood when the old blood is used up, that the heart pumps blood throughout the body. From
http://www.zephyrus.co.uk/williamharvey.html -
Galileo Publishes Dialogue on Two World Systems
Dialogue on Two World Systems is a book the compares the Copernican system to the Ptolemic system of the universe (with an obvious bias towards the Copernican System). The book served as futher grounds for Galileo's trial for heresy. From
http://sqapo.com/galileo.htm -
Galileo's Books are Banned
In 1633, Galileo was tried and convicted by the Catholic Church of Heresy, had his books banned, was forced to write a statement recanting his views (but as he was a clever writer, he doesn't really recant them, just states that some find them recantable), and was placed on house arrest for the remainder of his days. From
http://www.jimloy.com/biograph/galileo.htm -
Descarte Publishes Discourse on the Method
Discourse on the Method is a book by Rene Descartes that talks about his views on learning and the perception of reality. Contrary to Francis Bacon's views, Descartes approaches reality through a more mathematic perspective, doubting everything that is not know 100%. He then says to use deductive reasoning (making a statement based on factual information) to gather all your information and organize it into one set of conclusions. From
The Western Tradition Textbook -
Galileo Publishes his Discourse Two New Sciences
Discourse on Two New Sciences was Galileo's final book, written right before he died, and is basically a summary of all of the theories and ideas he had had about the Scientific World. The book covers the concepts of time, infinity, the (not yet) Law of Falling Bodies, and heliocentricism among other things From
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_New_Sciences -
Period: to
Isaac Newton Lived
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Malpighi publishes De Pulmonibus
De Pulmonibus is a book by Malpighi that talks about his findings on the cirulation of blood. He states that blood circulates throughtout the body based on various microscopic experiments and observations he had made. This book futher proves William Harvey's theory that the heart acts as a pump for blood. From
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Marcello_Malpighi.aspx -
Jean Picard Measures the Parallax of Mars
Jean Picard was a French Scientist that, among many other notable feats, measured the parallax (margin of error in size gathered from seeing an object a certain way; i.e. something looks smaller when you're farther away from it). The scale he developed as a result was essential in learning more about the shape of planets and their distance from Earth. From
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Jean_Picard.aspx -
Newton Publishes Mathematic Principles of Natural Philosphy
Mathematic Principles of Natural Philosphy (A.K.A. THe Principia) is a book by Isaac Newton that discuss his Theory of Gravity (things with mass attract other things with mass), his 3 Laws of Motion (object at rest stays at rest unless movedobject in motion stays in motion unless stopped, more force means more accelaeration, every action has equal and opposite reaction), and also correlates the heliocentric model of the universe. From
http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520088177 -
Newton Publishes Opticks
Newton's Opticks is a book by Isaac Newton that states observations, findings, and principles for the refaction (bending) of light. From
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opticks
