During the 16

th
, 17
th
, and 18
th
centuries, there were a number of new factors that
influenced the perspectives of Europeans. Among these is the Scientific evolution
which, according to Speilvogel on page !"1, #brought about a dissolution of the medieval
worldview.$ %his was also a period of great social change, e&emplified b' the (rench
evolution and the Enlightenment.
%he eformation laid much of the groundwor) for the Scientific evolution b'
allowing the ideas of the church to be challenged. During the *iddle Ages, scientists
e&isted, but were greatl' limited b' the church. After the eformation the impact of these
restrictions was lessened, allowing science to progress. %he enaissance also had a large
role in the Scientific evolution. %he #new attention to ancient wor)s b' thin)ers such as
+tolem', Archimedes, and +lato.$,Speilvogel page !"1-, showed contradictions between
different ideas and spurred people to wor) towards finding which one was correct.
Another factor that ma' have pla'ed a role in the Scientific evolution is the #accurate
renderings of roc)s, plants, animals, and human anatom'$, which, #established new
standards for the stud' of natural phenomenon.$,Speilvogel page !"1- %he progress of
the Scientific evolution was also aided b' new scientific developments. newer
technologies opened the doors to discoveries and increased the usefulness of
mathematics.
/ne of the ma0or aspects of the Scientific evolution is that Scientific 1nowledge
became much more accessible and widespread instead of onl' being possessed b' a small
number of people. Something that assisted in this, and was probabl' the biggest
contribution of the Scientific evolution, was the development of the Scientific *ethod.
%he scientific method was developed as a #proper means to e&amine and
understand the ph'sical realm.$. this allowed #scientists to communicate their ideas with
each other and to disseminate them to a wider, literate public.$ ,Speilvogel page !21-
(rancis 3acon produced a scientific method that provided a much more s'stematic
approach, consisting of numerous e&periments. 4ewton combined this with another
method that focused on #deduction and mathematical logic$ to create the modern
scientific method.
%he Scientific evolution also saw the start of scientific societies. Although these
groups did ma)e some progress in advancing science, #their true significance arose from
their e&ample that science should proceed along the lines of a cooperative venture.$
,Speilvogel page !2!-
*uch of educated societ' embraced science relativel' 5uic)l', #because it offered
new wa's to e&ploit resources for profit.$,Speilvogel page !2!- %he church, however,
conflicted with scientific progress because it challenged their beliefs. %his ended up
bac)firing on the church, as the' supported theories that lined up with their views. %hese
theories were later disproved, wea)ening the church.
(ollowing the Scientific evolution was a movement )now as the Enlightenment
that applied #the scientific method to an understanding of ever' aspect of
life.$,Speilvogel page !26- %he Enlightenment was influenced b' the eformation
opening #the door to the 5uestioning of religious truths and values.$
,Speilvogel page !26- and also b' the ideas of the Scientific evolution.
%here were man' new ideas b' philosophers during the enlightenment. *an' of
the philosophers had negative opinions on religion. %hese varied between philosophers
ranging from criticism, to hatred, to the idea of religious tolerance. Another idea, argued
b' *ontes5uieu, was that of separation of powers. 7e believed that the ideal form of
government possessed the e&ecutive, legislative, and 0udicial branches, preventing an'
one part from having too much power. %he Enlightenment also led to the social sciences.
man' philosophes found #natural laws that the' believed governed human actions.$
,Speilvogel page !6"- /ne group of philosophes, the +h'siocrats, found that the econom'
was governed b' suppl' and demand. As a result, the' believed that there should be no
intervention in the econom' b' government. Although the philosophes considered war to
be pointless and wasteful, conflict between European nations continued.
*ost of the pilosophes that a ruler was necessar', but that he must be elightened.
%his meant that he practiced religious toleration, allowed free speech, and the right to
hold propert'. %o be considered elightened a ruler also had to #foster the arts, sciences,
and education. Above all, the' must not be arbitrar' in their rule. the' must obe' the laws
and enforce them fairl' for all sub0ects.$,Speilvogel page !78-
%he Scientific evolution, along with the Elightenment were responsible for huge
changes in the viewpoint of Europeans. /ne of the biggest impacts was the lessening of
the importance of the church. +rior to this, the church had been the central focus in
ever'one8s life. After the Enlightenment, most of the people are still religious, but societ'
has become far more secular than it had been.
%his period is also responsible for a conversion to more rational thought. %he
Scientific evolution brought the scientific method, changing the wa' man' people
viewed the world and vastl' improving the progress of technolog'. %he Enlightenment
further e&panded these ideas with their focus on the uni5ue abilit' of human beings to
reason.
9n addition, the Enlightenment saw the rise of a more materialistic attitude.
+reviousl', there had been little importance placed on possessions because it was
believed that the onl' purpose of this life was to get to heaven. After the Enlightenment,
most of the people still believe in heaven, but man' of them are now more interested in
en0o'ing this life until the' get there.
9n the eighteenth centur', Europe e&perienced the beginning of an economic
change that would have a large effect on the world. %his change was caused b' a
combination of several factors including #apid population growth, an agricultural
revolution, industriali:ation, and an increase in worldwide trade$.,Speilvogel page !88-
%he increasing population was due primaril' to fewer deaths as a result of greater
availabilit' of food and the end of the bubonic plague. (ood production was increased as
a result of newl' developed methods of farming. 9ncreases in global trade led to
improvements in industr', as well as the development of port cities.
Another impact of the Enlightenment was the formation of a belief in natural
rights. %hese were #fundamental privileges that must not be withheld from an'
person.$,Speilvogel page !78- %hese rights, man' of which are included in the ;nited
States <onstitution, include e5ual treatment under the law, freedom of religion, freedom
of speech, freedom of press, the right to hold propert', and the pursuit of happiness.
%he Scientific evolution and the Enlightenment are responsible for la'ing much
of the foundation of modern societ'. %he ideas of the Scientific evolution, such as the
scientific method and scientific societies, are still in use toda'. Also, without the
Scientific evolution, technolog' would li)el' be much further behind. %he
Enlightenment also provided man' concepts which are present in our societ'. %he
concept of laisse: faire, based on suppl' and demand, e&ists in societ' toda' even if it is
not practiced in its pure form. %he Enlightenment also gave the concept of religious
tolerance. 9n addition to these direct effects on modern societ', the Scientific evolution
and Enlightenment also influenced other events..