Impact of Renaissance on Science

 

Blind faiths of people in supernaturalism, feudalism, the domination of the Church, and mysteries stood in the progress of science. Earlier, science was supported by scriptures but later, during the Renaissance period, it was believed that science was based on observation and investigation.

 

Do you know who the person behind this idea was?

 

Roger Bacon was the first person to lay stress on scientific investigations and original thinking. This brought about a revolution in political, economic, social, and cultural life.

 

Astronomy

 

According to Ptolemy�s system, the sun, the moon, and the stars revolve around the earth once in 24 hours. A scientist of Poland named Copernicus (1473�1543 CE) rejected the theory and proved that the Earth and other planets move around the Sun and the Earth is round in shape. This model was published in his book De revolutionibus orbium celestium before his death in 1543.

 

This event triggered the Copernican Revolution. His heliocentric theory was based on the following:

 

� There is no center of all celestial circles or spheres.
� The center of the Earth is the center of gravity and the lunar sphere, not the center of the universe.
� The Sun is the center of the universe as all the spheres revolve around the Sun.
� The Earth moves on its axis and also in a spherical orbit around the Sun.

John Kepler (1571�1630 CE), a German scientist proved that the Earth and the other planets moved in elliptical orbits around the Sun and not in a circle. The Law of Gravitation as discovered by Sir Issac Newton (1642�1727 CE).

Do you know who invented the telescope?

 

Telescope was invented by Galileo (1564�1642 CE).

Physics

 

The law of parallelogram of forces was discovered by Stevin (1548�1620 CE). Gilbert (1540�1603 CE) carried out experiments concerning the properties of magnets and paved the way for the study of electricity.

 

Do you know who invented the thermometer?

 

Galileo, an astronomer, and a physicist invented the thermometer and hydrostatic balances. Aristotle believed that heavier bodies fall at a rapid speed than lighter bodies but Galileo challenged the theory and proved that the speed of falling bodies depends on the distance and not on the weight.

 

Biology, Chemistry, and Medicine

 

Do you know who gave the correct picture of the human body?

 

It was given by Vesalius (1514�1564 CE). Later on, his successor Harvey (1576 � 1657 CE) proved that the functioning of the human body depends on the circulation of blood.

 

A close connection between chemicals and medicine was explained by Paracelsus (1493�1541 CE) who also used chemicals for medicinal purposes. Cordus (1515�1544 CE) made ether from alcohol and sulphuric acid. Carbon dioxide was discovered by Helmount (1577�1644 CE).

 

Mathematics

 

Algebra and numerals were taught by Arabs to the West. Modern Geometry was made systematic by Desargues (1593 � 1662 CE). Analytical Geometry was introduced by Descartes and Stevin taught a decimal system of coins, weights, and measures.

 

Some Other Inventions

 

Some other inventions of the Renaissance period include a telescope, microscope, printing press, hand-gun, gun powder, and mariner�s compass. As a result of the growth in science, an Encyclopedia of scientific knowledge was published in the 17th century.

 

Read More:
Impact of Renaissance: Development of Humanism, Art and Science