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History: Midterm
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Colonialism
Colonialism refers to attaining political control, complete or partial, by a state or country over another state or country, wherein the ruling country occupies the colony with its settlers, and makes exploitative use of its resources. It involves imposing of the language and cultural values on the subjugated nation. Colonialism began in the fifteenth century when Portugal and Spain started exploring new lands. The purpose of colonialism was to get labor on minimum wages as well as find natural resources scattered around the world. Colonialism proved substantially beneficial for the dominating powers and had adverse effects on the economy, culture, and identity of the subjugated nations.
Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus was a mathematician and astronomer who presented the idea that the sun is at the center of the universe, and all other planets revolve around it. This model is also termed as the heliocentric solar system. Copernicus lived during the renaissance era, and belonged to Poland. He explained further that the sun is static, and the earth rotates around its axis as well as orbits around the sun. Since his idea was contrary to the religious belief of people at that time, people stood against him. His theory changed the view of scientists about the order of the universe.
Industrial Revolution
The industrial revolution is characterized by the change of manufacturing ways from the traditional methods to modern processes. This was a period starting nearly from 1820. The transition to modern mechanical processes matured by 1840. Huge masses of people shifted from villages to cities to work in the factories ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"Yxwmc5Pi","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Ashton)","plainCitation":"(Ashton)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":42,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/wreEcalP/items/KCSCUBV3"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/wreEcalP/items/KCSCUBV3"],"itemData":{"id":42,"type":"article-journal","title":"The industrial revolution 1760-1830","container-title":"OUP Catalogue","author":[{"family":"Ashton","given":"Thomas Southcliffe"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1997"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Ashton, 27). Huge production levels filled markets with low-cost goods. The power of steam was also discovered in this era, leading to enormous industrial progress. It also caused difficulties at the beginning of the settlement of people in the big cities. Industrial revolution changed the face of the earth, the life of man, and even the professional goals of individuals.
Catherine the Great
Catherine was a Russian empress who reigned from 1762 to 1796. She had a significant contribution to the development of Russia. Her efforts resulted in the expansion of the empire. She focused on the administration to improve its efficiency. She is often associated with deeds of corruption and scandal. Her long reign comprising various reforms left Russia as a major empire of the world. She is regarded to be great for the expansion and development of Russia, and her longest reign.
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was the pact conducted and ratified between the United States and Great Britain to end the revolutionary war of America and bring peace to people. It was signed in 1783, and ratified later by representatives of both Congress and British King one after another. The Treaty of Paris, signed in Paris, implied that the American nation wins its freedom from the British Empire ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"VCwoPDoG","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Gilje)","plainCitation":"(Gilje)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":43,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/wreEcalP/items/5SLZYHDV"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/wreEcalP/items/5SLZYHDV"],"itemData":{"id":43,"type":"article-journal","title":"Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the British Challenge to Republican America, 1783–1795 by Michael Schwarz","container-title":"Journal of the Early Republic","page":"560-563","volume":"39","issue":"3","author":[{"family":"Gilje","given":"Paul A."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2019"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Gilje, 9). The colonial rule ended and Britain acknowledged America as a free state. The treaty also resulted in the extension of boundaries of America.
Louis XIV
Louis XIV was the King of France from 1643 to 1715. His reign was more than 72 years long, the longest in the history of Europe. He was enthroned at the age of four. He married his first cousin. Most of his children were illegitimate, whom he legitimized later. He is famous for his longest reign, and for building a magnificent palace in Versailles. He was known as the Sun King because he thought the sun symbolizes him, as he is the center of the whole of France. One of his notorious acts was the destruction of Protestant churches and coerced transition of children to Catholic faith. His rule was absolute monarchy.
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton was an English scientist, theologian, and author of the 17th century. He was a mathematician, physicist, and astronomer. He is regarded as the most influential figure in the history of science. His role in the scientific revolution was substantial. He discovered the force of gravity, laws of motion, and calculus, and gave many scientific explanations. He never married, and he had no children. His theories had great impacts on the minds of scientists for centuries.
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest and expert in theology of the 16th century. He is known as the most prominent figure of the Protestant school of thought. He manifested many violations to the teachings of the Catholic faith. He translated the testament so that people could become familiar with the teachings of their religion. His influence on the Christian religion contributed the most toward the formation of the Protestant school ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"jcA5lE1Y","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hendrix)","plainCitation":"(Hendrix)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":44,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/wreEcalP/items/DSG242S9"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/wreEcalP/items/DSG242S9"],"itemData":{"id":44,"type":"book","title":"Martin Luther: visionary reformer","publisher":"Yale University Press","ISBN":"0-300-16669-9","author":[{"family":"Hendrix","given":"Scott H."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2015"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hendrix). He asserted that people should have faith in God only, and look to Him for salvation. He said forgiveness is a gift of God. He strived to bring reforms to the Catholic Church. He disclosed the flaws in indulgences.
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French leader of the early 19th century. He became prominent during the French revolutionary wars. He remained the emperor of France for more than ten years. Many of his quotes have become very famous. He is the most acclaimed military leader in the French history. He led many successful military campaigns during the French Revolution. His conquests made France the most powerful state in the continent. He developed a code that included legal reforms enabling all people to enjoy the benefits of law and order. His revolutionary initiatives proved to be dramatically effective.
The US Constitution
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States. It means that all legislative activities would be carried out in the light of the Constitution. It provides the frame of government by postulating seven articles. These fundamental principles govern the country in every aspect.
The US Constitution developed earlier in the late 18th century, when the Constitutional Convention met at the Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Delegates representing several states came to attend the debates. Madison contributed most significantly by shaping the basic frame of the constitution.
The constitution protected freedom of people. It limits the power of government by establishing checks and balances. It divides the government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. It creates a balance between the powers of the federal government and the states.
Essay
Introduction
The “scientific revolution” refers to the change in scientific thinking that occurred in a series of events. The period of scientific revolution is considered to be the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The researchers and scientists found a new way to look into the secrets and phenomenon of nature. Substantial developments in pure or mainstream physical sciences caused these revolutionary changes in scientific thought. "Enlightenment" refers to the intellectual or philosophical movement emerged in Europe during the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Enlightenment was characterized by absolute rejection of tradition – ideas related to religion, society, and politics. The movement emphasized to focus on reason and individualism. Both the scientific revolution and enlightenment proved to be the foundations of the modern Western world. Both revolutionized the world and caused drastic changes in societies.
Discussion
The scientific revolution started in the early 16th century with the publishing of Copernicus’s book that detailed the theory of a heliocentric solar system. Nicolaus Copernicus stated that the earth is neither at rest nor situated at the center of the universe. Instead, the sun is at rest, and other planets including the earth are moving around it in a circular motion ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"BBqG6CT8","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Shapin)","plainCitation":"(Shapin)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":45,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/wreEcalP/items/BVQAVHPJ"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/wreEcalP/items/BVQAVHPJ"],"itemData":{"id":45,"type":"book","title":"The scientific revolution","publisher":"University of Chicago Press","ISBN":"0-226-39848-X","author":[{"family":"Shapin","given":"Steven"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2018"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Shapin, 25). This concept of the universe contradicted the common belief of people in this regard, which has been derived from the testaments. It became a symbol of deviation from the path of God. The representatives of the church stood against this new revolutionary idea to save their grace. They thought such ideas should not be allowed to flourish in society. They understood that the revolutionary ideas could deny the very beliefs of their religion.
The Greek view of the universe and nature has dominated the field of scientific studies for thousands of years. The scientific revolution taught the scientists how to conduct a scientific study experimentally, called the "Scientific Method". The scientific method became the highest achievement of the revolution. To find the underlying laws of the universe, to uncover secrets of nature, the scientific method proved to be the ultimate tool of research. Further, science gradually became the central point of the European civilization. Christianity lost its grip on the society. It should be noted that the scientific revolution was preceded by renaissance and followed by one of its most influential branches, enlightenment. All three movements had an impact on the whole world in reshaping ideas, changing societies, and emerging opportunities.
The prominent figures of the scientific revolution were Copernicus, Newton, and others. The prominent figures in the enlightenment wee Kant, Adams, and others. Both of these visions of research had considerable impacts on the world. The laws discovered by Newton revolutionized the scientific knowledge. To make his readers understand properly the laws of gravity and motion, he invented calculus to study the changing nature of the universe. Einstein's theories had the greatest manifestations of the impact of scientific knowledge on the world in the form of World War I and II. People came to know to the fullest extent the power of the human mind and the scope of scientific thought. Similarly, the supporters of enlightenment influenced the world so much as several movements had emerged in their following.
The scientific thought taught the human beings that the truth is only to be discerned if some empirical data is found for evidence. The scientific research proved to be the basis for human decisions and accepting the truth. Enlightenment triggered skeptical thinking in the scientists and thinkers ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"HT5IXOUv","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Outram)","plainCitation":"(Outram)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":46,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/wreEcalP/items/FQ6LJ7M7"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/wreEcalP/items/FQ6LJ7M7"],"itemData":{"id":46,"type":"book","title":"The enlightenment","publisher":"Cambridge University Press","volume":"58","ISBN":"1-108-42466-X","author":[{"family":"Outram","given":"Dorinda"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2019"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Outram, 246). Logic, reason, and rationalism became the criteria for judgment. People got inspiration from the happenings of daily life by using the scientific method. All ideas were tested on the criteria of rationalism and scientific method. It was found that old ideas rarely withstand the knowledge of a new era. Therefore, people gradually omitted trusting in the traditional beliefs. This was the most prevalent effect of enlightenment and scientific theory. No decision was made based on trust in any previous belief. The scientific method enabled man to look at the universe with a new approach of experimentalism. Thoughts changed drastically; practices evolved with time to align with the new methods of research and experimentalism.
Conclusion
The scientific revolution and enlightenment were two successive movements that influenced the human mind, society, political systems, and culture to the greatest extent. Both gave the people a new direction of making efforts to achieve progress. There were thinkers behind these movements who empowered the related thoughts and founded new platforms for experimenting. The people in the western world got new ideas, changed the ways of thinking, and became enlightened with the prestigious concepts of scientific method. Many new inventions during the scientific revolution are clear evidence of the success and practical influence of the new thought.
Works Cited
ADDIN ZOTERO_BIBL {"uncited":[],"omitted":[],"custom":[]} CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Ashton, Thomas Southcliffe. “The Industrial Revolution 1760-1830.” OUP Catalogue, 1997.
Gilje, Paul A. “Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the British Challenge to Republican America, 1783–1795 by Michael Schwarz.” Journal of the Early Republic, vol. 39, no. 3, 2019, pp. 560–63.
Hendrix, Scott H. Martin Luther: Visionary Reformer. Yale University Press, 2015.
Outram, Dorinda. The Enlightenment. Cambridge University Press, 2019.
Shapin, Steven. The Scientific Revolution. University of Chicago Press, 2018.
