Timeline 1550-1914

Nicholas Copernicus

Feb 19, 1473

Copernicus proposed the idea of a heliocentric solar system. He died on May 24, 1543. http://www.biography.com/people/nicolas-copernicus-9256984

Andreas Vesalius

Dec 31, 1514

Vesalius made the discovery of the liver. He also believed that there were two types of blood in the body. He died on October 15, 1564. http://clinicalanatomy.com/vesalius2.htm

Galileo Galilei

Feb 15, 1564

Galileo was a mathematician. He invented the telescope, and with his new invention, he discovered wha the Church said was "The Heavens", was actually just more of outer space. http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96feb/galileo.html

Johannes Kepler

Dec 27, 1571

Kepler believed in the Copernicus system, but he discovered that the planets moved in eliptical orbits around the Sun. He died on November 15, 1630. http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/kepler.html

René Descartes

Mar 31, 1596

Descartes came up with the theory of separating the mind and body. He wanted to come up with a method for reaching the truth.He came up with the famous phrase, "I think, therefore I am." He died on February 11, 1650. http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96mar/descartes.html

John Locke

Aug 29, 1632

Locke believed that society was molded by their experiences. He thought that if environments were changed and people were exposed to good in fluences, then people could be changed and a new society created. Book, page 519.

Isaac Newton

Jan 4, 1643

Newton created the three laws of motion. He created to universal law of gravity. He died on March 31, 1727. http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Newton.html

Baron de Montesquieu

Jan 18, 1689

Montesquieu came up with Separation of Powers, which consisted of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. He believed that this would give each branch equal power. He died on February 10, 1755. Book, page 520.

Voltaire

Nov 21, 1694

He had a strong belief in religious toleration. He reminded governments that all men are brothers under God. He was Diest. He died on May 30, 1778. Book, page 520.

The First Newspaper

Feb 7, 1702

The first newspaper was published in London in 1702. Newspapers were relatively cheap and they were provided for free in many coffeehouses. Book, page 524.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Jun 28, 1712

Rousseau wrote The Social Contract, and it was published in 1762. It explained that an entire society agrees to be gonverned by its general will. If someone wants to follow their own self-interest, then they must be forced to abide by the general will. He died on July 2, 1778. Book, page 522.

Denis Diderot

Oct 5, 1713

Diderot created the first Encyclopedia. It was a 28-volume collection of knowledge hat he created between the years 1751 and 1772. He died on July 31, 1784. Book, page 521.

Adam Smith

Jun 5, 1723

Smith wrote The Wealth of Nations in 1776. He believed that the state should not interfere in economic matters. He gave to govement three basic roles: protecting society from invasion, defending citizens from injustice, and keeping up certain public works. He died on July 17, 1790. Book, page 521.

Cesare Beccaria

Mar 15, 1738

Beccaria proposed a new approach to justice. He was opposed to capital punishment. He believed that punishments were too harsh, and that people didn't learn their lessons. He died on November 28, 1794. Book, page 522.

Spinning Jenny

Feb 7, 1764

The spinning jenny was invented by James Hargreaves. It made the spinning process of cotton much easier. Book, page 582.

Steam Engine

Feb 7, 1782

The steam engine was created by James Watt. It was designed to drive machinery. It could be used to spin and weave cotton. Beofre long, cotton mills used steam engines. Book, page 582.

Water-Powered Loom

Feb 7, 1787

The water-powered loom was invented by Edmund Cartwright. This invention made it possible for the weaving of clothto catch up with the spinning of thread. Book, page 582.

Flying Shuttle

Feb 7, 1787

This invention made weving faster. This was invented by John Kay. Book, page 582.

Communism

Feb 7, 1848

Marx blamed the system of industrial capitalism for the horrible conditions in factories. Their solution was a new social system. Book, page 618.

Trade Unions

Feb 7, 1870

Trade unions were another force working for evolutionary rather than revolutionary socialism. They won the right to strike in the 1870's. By 1914, there were almost four million British trade unions. Book, page 619.

World Economy

Feb 7, 1900

The Second Industrial Revolution, combined with the growth of transportation by steamship and railroad, fostered a true world economy. By 1900, Europeans were recieveing beef and wool from Argentina and Australia, coffee from Brazil, iron from Algeria, and sugar from Java. Book, page 618.