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The History of Astronomy

Renaissance Astronomy (AD 1450 – 1750)

Standard

➢ Describe major historical changes in scientific perspectives

Background: The Renaissance, which began in Italy in the 14th century and gradually spread throughout Europe marked the rebirth of humanistic ideals after nearly 1300 years of suppression, a period known as the dark Ages. Artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Rafael; the composers Gabrielli and Monteverdi and others; playwrights and authors such as Shakespeare, Machiavelli, Chaucer, and Spencer; and philosophers like Martin Luther all made important contributions to the Renaissance movement.

In science, too, the development of new ideas and methods was encouraged by independent thought.

Philippus Aureolus Paracelsus (1493? – 1541) studied the chemical nature of diseases and Andreas Vesalius (1514 – 1564) established surgery as a practice for men skilled in anatomy rather than just barbers. In the same year that Vesalius published his treatise on human anatomy, 1543, the Polish-born astronomer, Nicolas Copernicus, issued his astronomical observations; these were to revolutionize the science of astronomy.

Claudius Ptolemy, in the second century A.D., advanced the model that all of the heavenly bodies revolved around the earth. The Church took this theory and held it as dogma for the next 1300 years – the Dark Ages. Copernicus rejected Ptolemy’s theory and proposed that the earth and the planets revolved about the sun. He did this in fear for his life. The Inquisition prosecuted any person that spoke out against the teachings of the Church. In fact, one scientist, Giordano Bruno, was later executed in 1599 by the Inquisition for his public support of the Copernican model. Copernicus himself withheld publication of his theory until he was on his deathbed. Galileo later came into conflict with the Inquisition and narrowly escaped execution himself.

Purpose:

1. To become familiar with the chronology of the development of the sun-centered model of the heavens.

2. To better understand the role of certain astronomers in the Renaissance movement.

Materials:

Renaissance Astronomy worksheet straight edge or ruler

Procedure:

1. Construct a time bar for each astronomer listed. The bar should extend from the year of birth to the year of death. Label each bar with the name and dates of the astronomer. The time bar for Copernicus has already been drawn.

2. Indicate by arrows and date the events listed with the astronomers. The publication of De revolutionibus in 1543 has already been done.

Data:

← 1492 – Columbus “discovered” America

← 1513 – Michelangelo completes ceiling of Sistine Chapel

← 1520 – Reformation – Martin Luther excommunicated by Catholic Church

➢ Nicolas Copernicus (1473 – 1543): Polish – born astronomer who lived in Rome

← 1533 – developed his sun-centered model of the heavens

← 1543 – published his theory in De revolutionibus

➢ Tycho Brahe (1546 – 1601): Danish nobleman who made precise observations of the motions of the planets

← 1572 – observed supernova

← 1599 – Giordano Bruno executed by the Inquisition for his support of the Copernican model

➢ Galileo Galilei (1564 – 1642): developed the scientific method

← 1609 – invented the telescope

← 1633 – tried and convicted as a heretic by the Inquisition

➢ Johannes Kepler (1571 – 1630): German – born mathematician hired by Tycho Brahe as an assistant

← 1609 – published first two laws of planetary motion (3rd law was published in 1618)

➢ Isaac Newton (1642 – 1727): British physicist who developed calculus, laws of motion, and universal gravitation

← 1687 – published Principia

Summary Questions:

1. Approximately how long did the Renaissance in science last? Explain.

2. What were the two opposing sides during the Renaissance?

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