Sharp on Science & Industry

Compare the Scientific Revolution (1540-1700) with the Industrial Revolution (1750s-1850)

I. Scientific Revolution

• Questioned & challenged the concepts and beliefs about nature and the external world from the Middle Ages. Became more secular, rational, & materialistic
• Astronomy
o Copernicus: rejected Ptolemaic universe & argued for heliocentric
o Kepler: 3 laws of planetary motion orbits of the planets are elliptical, speed of a planet is greater when it’s closer to the sun, and planets with larger orbits revolve slower
o Galileo: proponent of heliocentric system. Observed universe was made of similar substance to earth. Discovered the principle of inertia
o Newton: invented the calculus. Famous book Principia. Discovered the Universal law of Gravitiation. Created the idea of Newton’s world machine.
• Medicine
o Paracelsus: treatment with chemicals and like cures like
o Vesalius: argued for hands on research
o William Harvey: discovered the heart was the center of blood circulation
• Rationalism Descartes: a believer in rational, mathematical, and mechanical thinking and reasoning. Discourse On Method. Cartesian Dualism the duality of the mind and body
• The Scientific Method Newton synthesized Bacon’s empiricism with Descartes’ rationalism into the scientific method which began with systematic observations, which were used to arrive at general concepts

II. Industrial Revolution

• Began in Britain around 1750 & spread to the European continent, eventually making Great Britain the wealthiest country in the world
• Factors agricultural revolution, GB had capital, central bank, willing investors, ample resources, willing government, and foreign markets in the empire
• Technological Changes
o The Cotton Industry:development of the flying shuttle, spinning jenny, water frame spinning machine, mule, and power loom all made the cotton industry more efficient
o The Steam Engine: Newcomen engine & the Watt’s engine were first steam engines, which were soon applied to the cotton industry in factories & other mills
o The Iron Industry: Development of the puddling system created cheaper and better iron
o The Railroad: The development of the steam engine led to the steam powered locomotive. Railroads created demand for iron and coal, investors, job opportunities, and facilitated lowered prices on goods.
o The Industrial Factory: Became the chief means of organizing labor. Regular hours, fast paced, low pay, bad working environments, harsh discipline
• Social Impact Population growth, which led to dire poverty, famines, and mass emigrations. Growth of cities.