1000-1500 Word Research Paper The time period between about 1400 and 1700 C.E.

is called the Scientific Revolution by many historians. This era was the turning point in history where many concepts of modern day science, such as physics, human physiology, biology, and chemistry originated. Along with these new discoveries came plenty of new inventions, such as the astrolabe, telescope, compass, stethoscope, smallpox vaccination, etc. The Scientific Revolution was essentially the undertaking of the many technologies we enjoy today. If it was not for the firm basis of the many developments and advances in sciences and instruments that were presented in this historical era, then we would have very different gadgets today. Some of these great innovators were Nicholas Copernicus, Galileo, and Isaac Newton. Personally, I believe that the Scientific Revolution was the main contributor to the abundant technologies in the present world. The discoveries of the Scientific Revolution made by researchers studying the topic of astronomy had a profound impact on the world. These divulgements were essential to the time, and they sharply turned the path of development from where it had been heading. For example, in the early Renaissance, Ptolemy developed a model of the solar system that featured the planets orbiting earth. This theory was soon after proved false with the discovery that was considered the undertaking of the Scientific Revolution. Nicholas Copernicus was the scientist that theorized a heliocentric model of the solar system. Although his hypothesis was widely rejected because it went against the beliefs of the powerful Catholic Church, it spurred a change in where science was heading. From this point and forward, science became extremely innovative and creative. Next, Kepler elaborated on Copernicuss theory, inferring that the orbit paths of planets were not, in fact, perfect circles, but ellipses. He used equations which were written simply to explain why it is understandable that the orbits of planets have fluctuations. One research led to another, and it led to what is astronomy and astrophysics today. If it were not for these breakthroughs, science would have been much less advanced than it is today, and may have even still been working with Ptolemys model. The study of astronomy led to many inventions during the Renaissance related to the field to which they helped to take flight. For example, the telescope, invented by Hans Lippershey and used by Galileo, allowed the user to see celestial bodies that were very distant. Likewise, the telescope also allows the user to see the light coming from the same bodies. Nowadays, the telescope is widely used in astronomy, and has advanced much. For example, they are larger now, so as to let the user see objects immensely farther away than before. Also, we now utilize space telescopes, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, because the atmosphere obscures the view from earth. By positioning telescopes in space, scientists can see clearer than ever before. If it were not for the need to see objects this distance from earth created by the study of the solar system, than this revolutionary invention would not have been invented. As well as the telescope, the astrolabe and many other important inventions originated. The astrolabe, invented by Hipparchus, was used to compute the position of astronomical objects. In turn, this information could also be used by sailors to determine their latitude and longitude at sea. This was replaced by the sextant as a more efficient method of making these calculations. To find ones location on earth today, the most common device to use is a GPS (Global Positioning System). In fact, global positioning systems are used even to receive directions to destinations, because the coordinates of roads are programmed into it. A very helpful tool, the GPS would not have
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been evolved if the groundbreaking study of astronomy did not require the mapping out of objects in the sky. Thankfully, astronomy saw much innovation and astounding new research during the Scientific Revolution, and as a result, we have these handy gadgets available for use today. Other discoveries, in the field of biology and medicine, during the Scientific Revolution also had an important effect on the world. Galen, an ancient medical specialist, had many theories that were proven to be false during the Scientific Revolution. The cumulative research of William Harvey, Richard Lower, Robert Hooke, Antoine Lavoisier, Anton Leeuwenhoek, Marcello Malpighi, Nicolaas Hartsoeker, et al. helped to explain form and function in the human body as well as maintenance in the human body. Likewise, other studies familiarized the world at that time with pathogens, the source of disease, diagnostics, and the treatment of those diseases. E.g., Thomas Sydenham discovered a treatment for malaria, James Lind realized the cause of scurvy was a lack of vitamin c (the vitamin in oranges and lemons), Edward Jenner worked on a smallpox vaccine- that later proved very effective in preventing smallpox-, and more. Overall, the new disciplines in biology proved to be very innovative and unique to the early modern period. The realm of medical science remains crucial to this day. Despite saving lives, this area of science and its turning points in the 14th and 17th centuries caused many instruments to be necessary to be invented. For instance, the stethoscope, invented by Ren- Thophile- Marie- Hyacinthe Lannec, allowed a doctor to listen to the organs on the inside of their patient. This instrument was used to listen to the heart and lungs. Originally, when it was invented, the stethoscope was a wooden tube similar to early auditory enhancement devices. Eventually, it changed over time to be a plastic and metal instrument that doctors use today. If it were not for this essential instrument, doctors would not be able to easily diagnose bronchitis, and people could die when they came down with the disease, like they used to before the invention of the simple but vital stethoscope. Similarly, the smallpox vaccine, an original substance produced by Edward Jenner, was a preventative measure that halted people from contracting smallpox. The idea sounds fairly simple, but was a huge improvement during the Scientific Revolution because smallpox was an awful disease that infected very quickly and killed the infected. In fact, the invention of the vaccine and vaccines for other pathogens are one of the main reasons for longer life span in the present day. If the trailblazing vaccine had not been developed, then we would not have the basis for all modern vaccines or genetic modification of pathogens, which also has many uses today. The vaccine increased the possible number of the human population, which to this day, is still seeing exponential growth. Biology and medicine forever changed the world of today. Therefore, the time between the 14th and 17th centuries was nothing short of Revolutionary. The advancements in astronomy and biology were turning points of their own. Those developments in theory put forth inventions which qualified as turning points as well. Both the inventions and the innovations in theory during the Scientific Revolution led to the great array of technologies that we have today. It is clear that we would not be the same race today without the level of innovation present in the Scientific Revolution.
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Annotated Bibliography (For Research Paper) i. "scientific revolution." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. This site may be helpful in order to get a basic understanding of the scientific revolution and maybe to get more information on further links or sites. Secondary source. ii. "Galileo." Image. Library of Congress. World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. This site simply says that Galileo was involved in the scientific revolution and provides information for further links and sites. Primary source. iii. "astrolabe." World History: The Modern Era.ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. This site is one of the technological advancements of the scientific revolution era, and since my project is the impact of the scientific revolution on technology, it is one of my core articles. Secondary source. iv. Streams, Peter N. World Civilizations: The Global Experience . 5th ed. New York: Pearson, 2007. Print. I used this source mainly for historical background and a brief overview of what I would be researching. Secondary source. v. Whitney, Elspeth. Medieval Science and Technology. no ed. Vol. 1. Westport: Greenwood Press, 2004. 2 vols. Print. On the internet, I found a short excerpt from this book from which I gained several isolated bits of information that I used to help with my final presentation. Secondary source. vi. Hatch, Robert. "A Timeline of Activities & Events ." The Scientific Revolution Homepage. University of Florida, n.d. Web. 20 Nov 2012. <http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/ufhatch/pages/03-Sci-Rev/SCI-REV-Home/05-sr-lngtimeline.htm> This source served as a backbone for my project, it was where I received most of the dates in my project from. Secondary source. vii Emmons, Jim Tschen. "Renaissance." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABCCLIO, 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. This source was another place that I gained more historical background and I learned more about the innovations and the inventors of the time. Secondary source.

viii. Peter , Stearns, Gosch Stephen, and Grieshaber Erwin. Documents in World History. 5th ed. New York: Pearson Education,Inc., 2008. 228-33. Print. This document book provided a source directly from one of the researchers of the time period, Thomas Aquinas. Primary source. ix. "telescope." World History: The Modern Era.ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.

This site is one of the technological advancements of the scientific revolution era, and since my project is the impact of the scientific revolution on technology, it is one of my core articles. Secondary source. x. "The Rise of Scientific Medicine: The Scientific Revolution." Seed. Schlumberger Excellence in Educational Development, Inc., n.d. Web. 28 Feb 2013. <http://www.planetseed.com/rise-scientific-medicine-scientific-revolution>. This source was important information biology and medicine during the scientific revolution, and explains inventions, information much needed. Secondary source.