World History Name: ________________________________________

The Scientific Revolution WebQuest

Each person below was important to the Scientific Revolution. Click on the names to be taken to a website
that has the answer to the listed questions.

Make sure you read the information fully and answer the questions thoroughly!

Copernicus
1. Where was Copernicus born and what did he do in his early life? He was born on february 19, 1473 in Thorn
(Torun), poland. young copernicus studied liberal arts at Bologna, where he studied medicine at Padua, and law at
the University of Ferrara
2. Besides astronomy, what did Copernicus study in school? math, philosophy.
3. What different occupations did Copernicus engage in? pythagoreans, and aristarchus of samos. he also did
writing.
4. What was Copernicus’ Heliocentric Theory? a view of a greatly enlarged universe. it was a shift away from the
comfortable anthropocentrism of the ancient and medieval world.
5. When did Copernicus reportedly receive a copy of his printed theory? he received a copy of his printed theory
on his death bed.

Galileo
1. What invention did Galileo improve upon? a telescope
2. What did he discover with his new invention? 4 new stars orbiting jupiter.
3. Which early scientist did Galileo’s teachings support? What was the church’s response? Medici, and Aristotelian
view. The church turned their backs on him.
4. What was he convicted of and what was the disposition of his sentence? “Vehement suspicion of heresy” an
under threat of torture forced to express sorrow and curse his errors. He was under house arrest for 8 years.

Isaac Newton
1. What caused Newton to begin to study the idea of gravity? The well known story, seeing an Apple fall in his
orchard
2. Besides his work with the law of gravity, what were Newton’s other interests? Alchemy, chemistry, chemical
force
3. What were Newton’s posthumous (after death) publications? Edition of geographia generalis, principia, opticks,
the chronology of ancient kingdoms amends, the system of the world, the first draft of book III of the principia, and
observations upon the prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John

Reflection: Of the three scientists you read about, who do you think left the greatest impact? Explain.
Galileo, because he was the one who invented the telescope, which many of us use still to this day to learn more
about outer space and let us see the planets from our backyards