The Scientific Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment | World History | Khan Academy

Summary

The script discusses the Renaissance and its progression into the Scientific Revolution, marked by Copernicus's heliocentric model and culminating in Newton's Principia. It then links to the Enlightenment, a philosophical movement emphasizing reason and natural rights, exemplified by John Locke. The Enlightenment's influence on revolutions and the Industrial Revolution's impact on society and imperialism are highlighted, concluding with questions on the Enlightenment's fulfillment and its relevance to modern human rights.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The Renaissance period, spanning roughly 200 years, was marked by Europe's rediscovery of knowledge from the Greeks and Romans.
• 📚 In 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus published 'On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres', challenging the geocentric model and suggesting a heliocentric model of the universe.
• 🔬 The scientific revolution began with Copernicus' publication and is often considered to have culminated with Newton's 'Principia' in 1687, which laid out the fundamental laws of the universe.
• 🌐 Newton's laws were so influential that they remained unchallenged for over 200 years until Einstein's theories of relativity.
• 🏛 The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement tied to the scientific revolution, emphasizing reason and challenging traditional notions of governance and human rights.
• 📜 John Locke, a key figure of the Enlightenment, argued in his 'Second Treatise of Civil Government' that reason should govern human action and that all people are equal and independent.
• 🏞️ The Enlightenment inspired revolutions in the Americas and Europe, including the American Revolution and the French Revolution, which were influenced by its ideas of liberty and equality.
• 🏭 The Industrial Revolution, following the Enlightenment, brought about significant technological advancements but also increased the demand for resources and markets, leading to imperialism.
• 🌍 The ideas of the Enlightenment were not consistently implemented during the age of imperialism, despite the growing power of industrialized nations.
• 💥 The 20th century, despite technological advancements, was marked by some of the bloodiest conflicts in human history, raising questions about the fulfillment of Enlightenment ideals.
• ❓ The instructor poses questions about the impact of the Enlightenment, the extent to which its ideals have been realized, and how close we are to achieving those ideals today.

Q & A

What was the significance of Nicolaus Copernicus's publication 'On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres'?

Nicolaus Copernicus's publication was significant because it suggested that the Earth revolves around the Sun, challenging centuries-old ideas about the universe's structure. It is often cited as the beginning of the scientific revolution.

How did the scientific revolution influence the Enlightenment?

The scientific revolution provided the tools and methods of thinking that allowed the Enlightenment to challenge traditional notions of governance, rights, and human relationships. It emphasized reason and evidence-based conclusions.

What is the connection between the Enlightenment and the revolutions in the Americas?

The Enlightenment inspired revolutions in the Americas, such as the American Revolution, with its emphasis on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, which are cited in the United States Declaration of Independence.

What did John Locke's 'Second Treatise of Civil Government' contribute to the Enlightenment?

John Locke's work contributed to the Enlightenment by proposing that reason should govern human action and that all individuals are equal and independent, with a natural right to life, liberty, and property.

How did the Enlightenment challenge the existing social and political structures of the time?

The Enlightenment challenged the existing social and political structures by questioning the divine right of kings, the institution of slavery, and the justification for social hierarchies, advocating for reason, equality, and natural rights.

What was the role of the Industrial Revolution in the spread of Enlightenment ideals?

The Industrial Revolution amplified the impact of Enlightenment ideals by increasing the production capabilities and global reach of societies, which in turn led to a greater demand for the application of these ideals in governance and social structures.

How did the Enlightenment influence the French Revolution?

The Enlightenment influenced the French Revolution by providing philosophical underpinnings that emphasized individual rights, the social contract, and the questioning of absolute monarchy, which were central themes during the revolution.

What is the relationship between the Enlightenment and the concept of human rights?

The Enlightenment is closely related to the concept of human rights as it promoted the idea that all individuals have inherent rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, independent of social status or monarchical authority.

How did the Enlightenment ideas contribute to the abolition of slavery?

Enlightenment ideas contributed to the abolition of slavery by challenging the moral justifications for it and advocating for the equality and natural rights of all humans, regardless of race or status.

What is the connection between the Enlightenment and the age of imperialism?

The connection between the Enlightenment and the age of imperialism is complex. While the Enlightenment promoted ideals of liberty and equality, the increased power and global reach of industrialized nations during the age of imperialism often led to the expansion of colonial empires and the suppression of rights for many people.

How does the instructor suggest we evaluate the overall impact of the Enlightenment?

The instructor suggests evaluating the impact of the Enlightenment by considering both its positive contributions to human rights and governance and its limitations, as seen in the coexistence of Enlightenment ideals with the age of imperialism and the bloodiest conflicts in human history.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Renaissance and the Dawn of Scientific Revolution

The paragraph discusses the Renaissance period, highlighting the rediscovery of knowledge from the Greeks and Romans. It emphasizes the publication of Nicolaus Copernicus' 'On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres' in 1543, which suggested a heliocentric model of the universe, challenging long-held beliefs. This publication is considered the start of the scientific revolution. The paragraph also mentions Isaac Newton's 'Principia' published in 1687, which described the laws of the universe using mathematics, a work that remained unchallenged until Einstein's theories of relativity. The text ponders on the reasons behind the scientific revolution occurring during this period and its relation to politics in Europe. It transitions into discussing the Enlightenment, a philosophical movement tied to the scientific revolution, exemplified by John Locke's 'Second Treatise Concerning Civil Government', which advocates for natural law governed by reason, equality, and the rights of individuals.

05:01

🔥 Enlightenment, Revolutions, and the Industrial Impact

This paragraph delves into the Enlightenment's influence on the revolutions of the late 1700s and early 1800s, particularly in the Americas, inspired by the ideals of life, liberty, and health as mentioned in the United States Declaration of Independence. It also touches on the French Revolution and Latin American revolutions, all of which were influenced by Enlightenment thought. The paragraph then connects the Enlightenment to the Industrial Revolution, discussing how society's newfound powers and capabilities led to a greater responsibility to deeply consider philosophical ideas. It highlights the Industrial Revolution's demands for raw materials and markets, leading to imperialism and the quest for colonies by Western European powers. The paragraph concludes by posing questions about the Enlightenment's effectiveness and fulfillment, considering the bloody conflicts of the 20th century, including World Wars I and II. It raises contemplative questions about the current state of Enlightenment ideals and human rights in the context of historical progress and challenges.

Keywords

💡Renaissance

The Renaissance was a period of cultural, artistic, intellectual, and economic rebirth that began in Europe in the 14th century and lasted until the 17th century. It marked a departure from the medieval period and a rediscovery of classical knowledge. In the video, the Renaissance is highlighted as a precursor to the Scientific Revolution, setting the stage for the intellectual curiosity that would lead to significant advancements in science and philosophy.

💡Scientific Revolution

The Scientific Revolution refers to the period during the Renaissance when there was a significant transformation in scientific ideas and methodologies. It is exemplified by the shift from the Aristotelian and Ptolemaic systems to the heliocentric model proposed by Copernicus, as mentioned in the video. This revolution challenged long-held beliefs and emphasized empirical evidence and scientific method.

💡Nicolaus Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus was a Renaissance-era mathematician and astronomer who is best known for his work 'On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres,' which proposed that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun. His heliocentric model was a pivotal moment in the Scientific Revolution and is referenced in the video as the beginning of a new era in understanding the universe.

💡Principia

The Principia, or 'Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy,' is a work by Sir Isaac Newton published in 1687. It laid the groundwork for classical mechanics and is considered one of the most important works in the history of science. The video mentions Principia as the capstone of the Scientific Revolution, outlining the laws of motion and universal gravitation that would remain unchallenged for centuries.

💡Isaac Newton

Sir Isaac Newton was an English mathematician, physicist, and astronomer who is widely recognized as one of the most influential scientists of all time. His laws of motion and universal gravitation, as described in the Principia, are foundational to classical physics. The video discusses Newton as a central figure in the Scientific Revolution.

💡Enlightenment

The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. It emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. The video ties the Enlightenment to the Scientific Revolution, suggesting that the new scientific methods and discoveries spurred a broader reevaluation of societal norms and values.

💡John Locke

John Locke was an English philosopher who is considered one of the most influential of the Enlightenment thinkers. He is known for his ideas concerning natural rights and the social contract theory, which are central to classical liberalism. The video quotes Locke's 'Second Treatise of Civil Government,' highlighting his views on natural law and the rights of individuals.

💡Social Contract

The social contract is a political philosophy that posits that individuals inherently have certain rights and that they agree to surrender some freedoms to the government in exchange for protection and order. This concept is central to the Enlightenment and is exemplified by John Locke's work, as referenced in the video.

💡Imperialism

Imperialism refers to the policy of extending a country's rule over foreign nations, often by military force or by gaining economic and political control. The video discusses how the increased power and capabilities resulting from the Scientific and Industrial Revolutions contributed to the age of imperialism, where Western European powers sought to expand their influence and control over other regions.

💡Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to 19th centuries during which agrarian societies became industrial and urban. It marked a major turning point in history as new manufacturing processes, the increasing use of steam power, and the development of machine tools led to a dramatic increase in productivity. The video connects the Industrial Revolution to the Scientific Revolution, indicating that the new technologies and capabilities it brought about had profound implications for society and the world order.

💡Human Rights

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms to which all individuals are entitled. The video suggests that the Enlightenment and its emphasis on reason and individual rights laid the groundwork for modern conceptions of human rights. It also poses questions about the extent to which these ideals have been realized or have failed, particularly in light of the bloody conflicts of the 20th century.

Highlights

The Renaissance rediscovered ancient knowledge from the Greeks and Romans and laid the foundation for the Scientific Revolution.

Nicolaus Copernicus' 1543 publication 'On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres' challenged centuries-old views by proposing the heliocentric model, where the Earth revolves around the sun.

Copernicus' work marked the beginning of the Scientific Revolution, shifting reliance on new methods and evidence over ancient assumptions.

The Scientific Revolution is seen to culminate in 1687 with Isaac Newton's 'Principia,' which introduced universal laws explained through mathematics, shaping science for centuries.

Newton's laws remained unchallenged for over 200 years, until the advent of Einstein’s theory of relativity.

The Enlightenment grew out of the Scientific Revolution, applying reason and scientific methods to human rights, governance, and societal structures.

John Locke, a prominent Enlightenment thinker, emphasized reason as the law of nature and argued for the equality and independence of all humans.

Locke's ideas challenged monarchies and systems of slavery, asserting that no one had the right to harm others without justification.

The Enlightenment ideas on human rights, justice, and governance directly influenced revolutionary movements in the Americas and Europe during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

The Industrial Revolution further empowered societies but also drove imperialism, as Western powers sought raw materials and markets globally.

Enlightenment ideals were inconsistently applied during the age of imperialism, with powerful nations exerting control over others.

Technological advancements of the Industrial Revolution were not matched by moral or philosophical progress, leading to catastrophic global conflicts in the 20th century.

World War I highlighted the gap between Enlightenment ideals and real-world application, raising questions about their fulfillment.

The abolition of slavery in the 19th century appeared to be a victory for Enlightenment ideals, but imperialism's rise showed contradictions.

The aftermath of World War II prompted a renewed focus on human rights, an ongoing challenge in the modern world.

Transcripts

- [Instructor] As we get into the 1500s,

the Renaissance has been going on for roughly 200 years.

Especially Europe has been rediscovering the knowledge

from the Greeks and from the Romans and as they enter

into the 16th century, they start to go beyond

the knowledge of the Greeks and the Romans.

In 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus publishes On the Revolutions

of the Heavenly Spheres, famous for suggesting that earth

is not the center of the universe but that the earth

revolves around the sun.

What was powerful about this is it challenged centuries old

ideas about how the universe worked and at a meta level,

it was about using new methods and evidence in order to make

conclusions no matter how revolutionary

those conclusions might be.

And this publication is often cited as the beginning

of what will be known as the scientific revolution.

Many people view the capstone of the scientific revolution

to be Newton's publication of Principia in 1687

and this is an incredibly powerful publication.

It describes the laws of the universe,

it's a universe in which most things can be explained

with simple principles, with mathematics.

This is so powerful that it would not be challenged

for over 200 years until Albert Einstein comes on the scene

with his theories of relativity.

But even today, Newton's laws, this is what is taught

in a first year physics class, this is what you learn

in an introductory engineering class,

so there's many things to think about,

why did this happen at this period of time,

how was it related to the Renaissance,

how was it related to things that were happening

in politics in Europe at the time?

But needless to say, it gave humanity a new perspective

on the universe and it gave humanity new powers

and we began to challenge all assumptions

and so as we get into the late 1600s and early 1700s,

people start trying to use these same tools,

the same deductive reasoning on some of the oldest questions

that humanity has ever asked itself,

questions like, what rights do we have as human beings?

Who gets those rights?

What duty and obligation do we have towards each other?

What is the role of government?

Who has the right to rule?

Now some of these questions have been the fodder

of philosophers and religion for thousands of years.

But now there was the power and the tools

and the challenging notions of the scientific revolution.

And this philosophical movement that is really tied

to the scientific revolution is known as the Enlightenment.

And just to have an example of the thinking

during the Enlightenment, here is a passage from John Locke

who is considered one of the pillars of the Enlightenment.

This is published in 1689, it's the Second Treatise

Concerning Civil Government.

"The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it,

which obliges everyone and reason, which is that law,"

so reason is the law of nature to govern it,

"teaches all mankind who will but consult it

"that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm

"another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.

"And when his own preservation comes not in competition,

"ought he as much as he can to preserve the rest of mankind

"and may not unless it be to do justice on an offender,

"take away or impair the life or what tends

"to the preservation of the life, the liberty, health,

"limb or goods of another."

Now to parse what he's saying, he says that reason

is this natural law that should govern human action

and he's saying no one ought to harm anyone else

and that if we're not in competition,

maybe there's only enough food for one of us

and there's two of us there, in which case we'd be

in competition, but if there isn't that competition,

we should be trying to help each other and we should

be trying to preserve the rest of mankind.

And unless it's for the purpose of justice,

you don't have the right to take away or impair the life

or things that help preserve the life, the liberty,

the health, limb, or goods of another.

Now you might say, hey, isn't this common sense?

And religions for all of time have touched on some

of these issues but you also have to appreciate

that this is a time when kings and emperors ruled the world.

What gave them that right?

Why are certain people slaves and other people not slaves?

Why do certain people in that world

have a right to own these other people?

And so this was a very controversial idea,

challenging some of these fundamental notions

of who should rule, who has the right to rule,

and to what degree should people exert control

over one another, so given these challenging notions

of the Enlightenment, and John Locke was only one

of the actors who would figure prominently

in this roughly 100-year period, it's no surprise

that as you get into the late 1700s and early 1800s,

you have a whole string of revolutions,

especially in the Americas, to a large degree inspired

by the ideas of the Enlightenment, things like life,

liberty, health, in the United States Declaration

of Independence, these things are cited.

During the French Revolution, these things are cited.

In the various revolutions in Latin America,

these ideas are cited.

Now one of the reasons why the Enlightenment

came about when it did, not only did we have new tools

of thinking and the opportunity to challenge notions,

but it might have been that society now had

the responsibility to think a little bit deeper

about these ideas because it was getting more and more

powers through the scientific revolution.

And those powers were becoming even more significant

when that science was applied

during the Industrial Revolution.

Now society could produce more than it could ever

produce before, but as we talk about in other videos,

the Industrial Revolution had a certain hunger

for raw materials and a certain hunger for markets

in which to sell your finished product.

It also allowed for more powerful weapons and ways

to project power and to control a larger empire,

methods of communication, methods of force,

and many historians tie it directly to the age

of imperialism where especially Western European powers

sought areas to get raw materials and markets

in which they could push their finished products

and so as the industrialized world had more and more power,

these ideas of the Enlightenment became maybe even more

relevant even though they might not have been implemented

consistently during the age of imperialism.

And as we've seen in other videos,

even though the technology keeps accelerating

during the Industrial Revolution, the philosophy

and the moral framework does not accelerate along with it

and in 20th century, we see one of the bloodiest centuries

in all of human history, so let me leave you

with a final series of questions.

As we go into the 1800s, we talked about the various

independence movements especially in the Americas,

we also have the abolishing of slavery

in most of the world around this time period and so to some

degree, it looks like the ideas of the Enlightenment

are coming to be, but at the exact same time,

you have the age of imperialism, where more and more control

is exerted over people around the planet.

This all comes to a head in World War I, which is one

of the bloodiest conflicts in all of human history.

So to what degree did the Enlightenment help the world

and to what degree did it not get fulfilled?

Or maybe in some way, things like World War I

and World War II were the birthing pangs,

the transition state, from the world before

the Enlightenment, then how close are we truly

to those ideals today?

In a future video, I'm gonna talk about that

and I'm gonna talk about the idea of human rights

and how we as a civilization have attempted to address it

after World War II.