The document summarizes several major historical periods and intellectual movements: 1) The Renaissance saw a rebirth of Greco-Roman learning and culture through humanism, with a focus on man as a subject of art, literature, and intellectual pursuits. 2) The Reformation involved the rise of individualism in Christianity and dissenting religious sects, as well as the development of national churches. 3) The Scientific Revolution established the scientific method of empirical observation and experimentation, viewing the universe through a mechanistic and mathematical lens.

1. The Renaissance
Rebirth of Greco-Roman learning Humanism - Man as a subject of
culture, art and literature
The Reformation
Individualism in Christianity - Personal relationship with God
“ Grace” Dissenting sects “ National Churches”
The Scientific Revolution
The Scientific Method Empirical observation Experimentation “ The Mechanistic
Universe” Mathematical proofs
ThE Enlightenment
Reason Individualism Social Contract Theory Inalienable Rights
Natural Law T Right of Revolution Science L
he iberty T F
he ree
Market

2. The Medieval World was a “ Throne and Altar ” society
based on a Rule-Set of Feudalism and Monotheism
(in Asia the Rule-Set was Confucianism and Caste)
You were defined by your birth - serf, peasant, knight,
noble - and your belief - Christianity, Islam, Judaism.
Nations did not exist yet General religious wars called
Crusades and Jihad could
Kings or powerful Nobles break out.
waged DYNASTIC wars to
increase their family’s The Pope claimed to be
holdings and power the leader of all
Christians.
What you did during a war
depended on your station and The Caliph was the
your lord. leader of all Muslims
Eventually, some religious wars
saw Muslims fighting Muslims
and Christians battling
Christians.

3. The Renaissance
Means “Rebirth” - of Humanism, Classical
Rebirth
Culture & Reason. 1350's- 1650
Renaissance Italy is the home of a cultural explosion – Art,
War, Politics, Business, Finance, Literature, Philosophy
Spreads to other European countries (not all)
Petrarch, Machiavelli, Da Vinci
Raphael, Michelangelo, Dante
Catholic Church at peak of wealth but
power & piety in sharp decline
Ignites Age of Exploration,
Exploration
Reformation and Scientific
Revolution

4. THE REFORMATION Individualism
Simplifying
Bible based
Grace not works
Born Again
King over
Church
Fracturing
National or
Local
Martin “Reform” or
Luther purge Church of
John Calvin Sin
King Henry VIII Radical

5. Changed how mankind identified knowledge in order to better understand the universe
Dramatically sped up the rate of cultural evolution, especially technological progress.
Sir Francis Bacon 1561-1626
Novum Organum Put as i de ol d i deas , s t udy t he worl d
and us e i nduc t i ve reas oni ng ( f rom
s pec i f i c f ac t t o t he general
The Advancement of Learning
pri nc i pal )
Knowledge is power. Practical knowledge is true knowledge
Renee Descartes 1596- 1650
Invented coordinate Geometry
Discourses on Method
Doubt everything not
reasonably proven Physical
world can be measured,
quantified and calculated.

6. Galileo Copernicus Kepler Laws of Terrestrial Motion
Heliocentric Theory
Laws of Planetary Motion
Rejected
Ptolemy
Sir Isaac Newton 1642 -1727
Invented Calculus
Discovered the Laws of Motion
Discovered the Law of Gravity
Deeply influenced Western civilization
Seek “ scientific explanations” of
events proved through
mathematics
Discoveries influenced Natural Law
Theory of Hobbes and Locke