Discuss the below:
Q: What were the conditions necessary to advance astronomical knowledge from Copernicus to Kepler to Newton? How did they develop during the seventeenth century?
One of our themes this semester is that before several transformations, people looked to the past in order to make sense of their universe; people lived in a world with little change; people were not particularly optimistic. All of this changed, however, over the course of several centuries. In the readings so far this semester, where do you see people beginning to look to other sources than an authority from the past; beginning to experience and expect more and more change in their lives; and beginning to expect the future to be better than the present?
Drawing on the readings, describe a day in the life of one of the following 16th-19th century people. You may use your historical imagination to prepare your post, but make sure you use the readings to provide evidence for the details you include in your account.
Ruler
Church Authority - Protestant or Catholic - This can include a monk or nun, for anyone in the Church was seen as an authority by many in society.
Intellectual - Scientist, Philosopher, Scholar, Writer, Musician, etc.
Merchant
Peasant / Farmer (The transition occurs in this period for most.)