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Miykael Zyskowski

Professor Todd Zimmerman

Ancient and Medieval History

4.07.2022

Assignment 12

1.

The modern era is influenced heavily by the past. Therefore, we study history and history

shows us how heavily the modern world was influenced by empires such as the British,

Portuguese and the Spanish. The Portuguese, during the 14th century began their expansion by

attempting to boost their sphere of influence over the economy and markets. They began to open

doors in the east. They created modern ships capable of high speeds and combat readiness after

the Portuguese showed their resolve against Turks, opening new lines of trade all the way to

Asia. Portugal would then also settle in South America, after the Spanish had already discovered

the territory and began colonizing it (Zimmerman). In total, they were able to take ports in Asia,

areas in Africa (including slavery) and what is modern day Brazil.

The Spanish overseas expansion was based on subjugation for the Spanish crown and

exploration. A secondary motive, once areas were taken was then of an economic stand point.

Spain would later revert to mining operations in Mexico and South America and not to mention

the rich plant life that brought new foods so trade and bring back to Europe. Spain would also

use the motive of expanding Christianity by setting up the first colonial cities in Western

Hemisphere and in the North American Continent (besides the Norse whose colony was not a

city and is believed to have not even lasted a year). Spain’s expansion would show territories in

North America, South America, Africa, Europe and Asia, specifically the Philippine Islands.
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This would be unlike their Portuguese’s counterparts who did not really conquer and establish a

major colony in Asia.

2.

The renaissance era brought in many new foundations of thought and study in the

academic world. Many colleges and universities would be established because of the new

societal wave. In comparison to its Middle Age or Medieval Counter part era, There was a

lacking in educative thought. There were many who were still stuck old studies such as

Heliocentric study of the universe (Zimmerman). This was idea that the entire solar system (or at

the time of thought was the universe) it all revolved around earth. The earth was seen as the

center of the universe and that there really was no expanse of a cosmic thought. No one would go

out to explore new ideas of attempt to use new scientific ideas such as testing hypothesis. The

renaissance era is what would change many things which, to this day, we use.

This era brought in many new people who would process ideas, create new forms of

thought, establish new ideas and create mathematical equations. Some of these people would be

Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton. Copernicus was an early Polish astrophysicist who

lived in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the 15th and 16th centuries. Although, he

had no physical proof, Copernicus deduced that the Heliocentric model of the universe was false

(Zimmerman). He created the theory of a geocentric universe where the universe revolves around

the sun. Johannes Kepler was a 16th century German astrophysicists and astronomer who create

the model for the geocentric theory by being able to use Brahe’s mathematical work

(Zimmerman.) Galileo was an Italian astronomer and astrophysicist who then was able to prove

the model by mathematical equations study and observation. He used a telescope to be able to

observe the solar system that the earth resided in, even though he was at a distance. Finally, Isaac
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Newton was an English physicist who create whole new study of mathematical thought known as

calculus and discovered was gravity was. He would then go on to make create naturalistic laws

based on the physics known as Newtons 3 Laws of Motion.

3.

Catholic church did not react well to the discovered of these men. Specifically, when it

came down to questioning the teachings of the Catholic church which believed in the heliocentric

model (Zimmerman). Anyone who questioned it was persecuted by the catholic church and soon

became a criminal. The catholic Counter reformation was the push back of the enlightenment

and renaissance era social changes that took place. A lot of the ideas were Aristotelian in thought

such as its agnostic questioning of the Bible (Zimmerman). Thomas Aquinas had much influence

over the Catholic Church for his philosophy of science and theology. This very strict way of

looking at the universe backlashed after seeing new discovered and theories take place from

others around Europe. Galileo was one of other who were persecuted for his new discoveries and

beliefs. People today, become anti-science because they already have a worldview in their minds

and something that disagrees with that worldview will make them drastically go on the

defensive.
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Work Cited

Zimmerman, Todd.” Portugal and Spain's Explorations Lecture.” Ancient and Medieval

History, 14 July 2017, Northampton Community College, Lecture.

Zimmerman, Todd.” Scientific Revolution Lecture.” Ancient and Medieval History, 14

July 2017, Northampton Community College, Lecture.