Development of science and technology of 16 th century Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of explanations and predictions about nature and the universe. Technology is the collection of techniques, methods or process has been used in the production of goods or services or the accomplishment of objectives such as scientific investigation or any other consumer demands.
Development of science and technology in 16 th to 19 th centuries The 16 th century was the century from 1500 to 1599. During the 16 th century, a time often characterized as the scientific revolution, major changes in philosophy and science took place. In 1543, Copernicus published the theory that the earth was not the centre of the universe, but rather that, the earth and other planets revolve around the sun, called Copernicus revolution. This theory changed the astronomy and ultimately changed all of science.
The “Copernican revolution” Heliocentric model: placing the sun in the centre and everything revolves around it. Showed motion of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Circular orbits. Fixed stars and space was larger than first thought Explained planetary motion that geocentric model(Ptolemaic system) couldn’t. It shows that earth has three ways of motion: Rotation on axis, Revolution (orbits) and axial tilt and inclination. Explained apparent retrograde motion.
Galileo Galilei : Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) was an Italian astronomer, physicist, and mathematician who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. His contributions to astronomy and physics were groundbreaking and laid the foundation for modern science. Some key points about Galileo include: Telescopic Observations : Galileo is credited with improving the telescope and using it to make significant astronomical observations. In 1609, he built his own telescope and made groundbreaking observations, including mountains and craters on the Moon, four moons orbiting Jupiter (now known as the Galilean moons), and the phases of Venus. Supporter of Heliocentrism : Galileo championed the heliocentric model of the solar system proposed by Copernicus, which placed the Sun rather than the Earth at the center of the universe. This put him in conflict with the geocentric views supported by the Catholic Church at the time. Conflict with the Church : Galileo's support for heliocentrism brought him into conflict with the Catholic Church, which considered heliocentrism heretical as it contradicted the geocentric views derived from religious interpretations of the Bible. In 1632, Galileo published his book "Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems," which presented arguments for heliocentrism . This led to his trial by the Roman Inquisition in 1633, where he was forced to recant his views and was placed under house arrest for the remainder of his life.
Develoment of science and technology in 17 th century (1600-1699) The development in the latter half of the 17 th century paved the way for an outburst of science activity which created modern science in most of its field in the next fifty years. 1)ROYAL ACEDEMIES : one of the most notable institutions in the history of science called “royal society” formed. Which was founded in the 17 th century and played a significant role in fostering scientific inquiry and collaboration during that time. Established in 1660, it proved a platform for scholars to discuss their finding, present papers and exchanges ideas(it attract most brilliant minds).
one of the oldest scientific journal in the world “philosophical transaction” was published. Royal society established an conducive environment to innovation and discovery. 2) Issac newton (1642-1727): He was English mathematician, physicist, astronomer and author who is widely recognized as one of the most influential scientist of all time. Newton's most famous work is his “ philosophine naturalis principia mathematica ” (mathematical principles natural philosophy) commonly known as the “principia”. Newton laid the foundation of classical mechanics and formulates his three laws of motion, which describe the behaviour of objects under the influence of forces. he also introduced the concept of universal gravitation, explaining how all objects with mass attract each other with a force proportional to their masses and inversely proportional.
3) William Harvey: (1578-1657): He was a physician, best known for his groundbreaking work in anatomy and physiology, particularly his discovery of the “circulation of blood”. He demonstrated that the heart acts as a pump to circulate blood through the arteries and veins, and that blood makes a complete circuit through the body, returning to the heart”. This discovery revolutionized the understanding of the cardiovascular system and laid the foundation for modern physiology. He made significant contribution to embryology demonstrating that all animals arises from eggs and debunking the theory of spontaneous generation.
The heart is the household divinity which discharging its function, nourshes , cherishes, quickens the whole body, and is indeed the foundation of life, the source of all action. -William Harvey
4) Marcello Malphighi (1628-1694):- H e is also known as “ father of microscopic anatomy ”. he made a significant contribution to the fields of anatomy, physiology and microscopy. One of the most significant contributions was his study of the structure and function of various tissues and organs in plants and animals. He used microscopy to examine tissues at the cellular level, providing detailed observation that advanced the understanding of biological structure. He was among the first to describe many anatomical features, including the capillaries and red blood cells in mammals, the structure of lungs and the structure of plant tissues.
Development of science and technology in 18 th century During the enlightenment was dominated by scientific societies and academies, which had largely replaced universities as centres of scientific research and development. Another important development was the popularization of science among an increasingly literate population. An increasingly literate population seeking knowledge and education in both the arts and the sciences drove the expansion of print culture and the dissemination of scientific learning.
1). Invention in textile industry:- it happen to meet the increasing for cotton cloth in the 18 th century, the textile industry underwent significant changes, leading to the development of new technologies and methods of production. These innovations included: Spinning jenny (1764) Water frame(1769) Spinning Mule (1779) Power loom(1785) These machines improved upon the quantity and quality of spun yarn and made producing cloth faster and required less time and far less human labour. Cotton grin: it separated cotton fibres from their seeds, making cotton processing more efficient and leading to increased cotton production.
Textile trade and colonization: European colonial power, particularly Britain, established colonies in region rich in raw materials such as cotton silk and wool. This facilitated expansion of textile industry. 2) Henry Cavendish (1731-1810): English scientist known for his work in chemistry, physics and mathematics. His contribution: discovery of hydrogen (He isolated hydrogen by reacting metal with acid) Density of earth Composition of water. Electrical studies
3) Joseph priestly (1733-1804): He is best known for his contributions to chemistry and his discovery of oxygen. He also investigated the process of photosynthesis and proposed that plant release oxygen during this process. 4 ) Antoine lavoisier (1743): He is considered as “ father of modern chemistry”. He established the law of conversation of mass, determined that combustion and respiration are caused by chemical reactions with what e named “oxygen” and helped systematize chemical nomenclature.
5) Edward Jenner (1749-1823 ): Physician and scientist who is best known for his pioneering work in development the smallpox vaccine, which ultimately led to the eradication of the disease. Development of vaccination. Global impact: it played a crucial role in the eventual eradication of smallpox, which was declared eradicated by the world health organization in 1980. Jenner’s work laid the ground for the development of other vaccines and revolutionized the field of immunology. His contribution to medicine have saved countless lives and have had a lasting impact in public health.
Development in 19 th century During the 19 th century science made great progress. People mastered electricity. In the mid 19 th century travel was revolutionized by railways and many people experimented with machine guns. In 1862 Richard Gatling invented the Gatling gun. 1) Charles Darwin was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist who is best known for his contributions to the science of evolution. Darwin's most famous work is his book "On the Origin of Species," published in 1859. In this seminal work, Darwin presented evidence and arguments for the theory of evolution through natural selection. This theory proposes that species evolve over time through a process of gradual change, driven by the differential survival and reproduction of individuals with advantageous traits.
2) Michael Faraday: Michael Faraday was a British scientist who made significant contributions to the fields of physics and chemistry, particularly in the areas of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. Faraday's most notable work includes his discovery of electromagnetic induction, which laid the foundation for the development of electric generators and transformers. Faraday also discovered the laws of electrolysis, which describe the quantitative relationships between the amount of substance produced at an electrode during electrolysis and the amount of electric charge passed through the electrolyte.
3) James clerk maxwell : James Clerk Maxwell was a Scottish physicist who made significant contributions to the understanding of electromagnetism and the nature of light. Among his many contributions, Maxwell also demonstrated that light is an electromagnetic wave and proposed the concept of electromagnetic radiation. This insight laid the foundation for the development of modern physics, including the fields of optics and quantum mechanics. Maxwell's work had profound implications for technology, leading to advancements such as radio communication, radar, and many other modern electronic devices.
4) John Dalton : Born on September 6, 1766, in Eaglesfield , Cumberland, England, Dalton was a pioneering figure in the study of chemistry. His most significant contribution came with his proposal of atomic theory in the early 19th century. Dalton's atomic theory postulated that all matter is composed of indivisible particles called atoms, which combine in fixed ratios to form compounds. He also proposed that atoms of different elements have different weights and properties. Dalton's atomic theory provided a conceptual framework that revolutionized chemistry by explaining the law of conservation of mass and the law of definite proportions.
5)Louis pasteur :(1822-1895) “father of microbiology”) Louis Pasteur was a French chemist and microbiologist who made groundbreaking discoveries in the fields of microbiology, immunology, and vaccination. Pasteur's most famous work includes his experiments that disproved the theory of spontaneous generation, demonstrating that microorganisms do not arise spontaneously but rather come from pre-existing microorganisms. This discovery laid the foundation for the field of microbiology and helped establish the germ theory of disease.
Pasteur also developed the process of pasteurization, a method of heating liquids to kill bacteria and prevent spoilage, which has had a profound impact on food safety and preservation. One of Pasteur's most significant contributions to medicine was his development of vaccines. He created the first vaccines for anthrax and rabies, pioneering the concept of immunization. His work on rabies vaccination, in particular, saved countless lives and revolutionized the treatment of this deadly disease. His work laid the groundwork for many subsequent developments in microbiology, immunology, and infectious disease control.