Early Modern Mega Documentary: Grand Finale

Introduction

• Double-sized grand finale episode.
• Focus: Revolutions, including intellectual revolutions like the Enlightenment.
• Origins of scientific revolution in the later Renaissance.

Scientific Revolution

• Traditional geocentric theory by Aristotle and Claudius Ptolemy.
• Geocentric Theory: Earth at the universe's center; celestial objects revolve around it in circular or epicycle motions.

Key Figures in the Scientific Revolution

• Nicolaus Copernicus (1543): Proposed heliocentric model; Sun at the center.

  • Educated in Poland and Italy; Influenced by ancient Greeks.
  • Developed a simpler mathematical model using circular orbits.

• Johannes Kepler: Confirmed heliocentric theory with elliptical orbits.

• Galileo Galilei: Used telescope for observations.

  • Discovered Jupiter’s moons, sunspots, and Moon's surface.
  • Conflict with the Catholic Church, later recanted views.

• Isaac Newton: Synthesized prior work; formulated laws of motion and universal gravitation.

  • Conceptualized the universe as a Newtonian World Machine.

Enlightenment

• Intellectual movement building on scientific revolution ideas.
• Key ideas: Reason, progress, natural laws applied to all life aspects (politics, economics).

Influential Thinkers

• René Descartes: Cartesian Dualism; mind-body separation.
• John Locke: Mind as a blank slate; social contract theory.
• Montesquieu: Separation of powers.
• Voltaire: Critic of organized religion, advocate for freedoms.
• Denis Diderot: Chief editor of ‘Encyclopédie’.

Women's Contributions

• Mary Wollstonecraft: Advocated for women's rights and education.
• Maria Winkelmann: Astronomer; contributions overlooked due to gender.

Cultural Shifts

• Transition from Baroque to Rococo art.
• Rococo: Lightness, playfulness, pastel colors.
• Antoine Watteau: Defined Rococo style.

Political Evolution and Enlightened Despotism

• Rise of enlightened monarchs: Catherine the Great (Russia), Frederick the Great (Prussia), Joseph II (Austria).
• Poland partitions among Russia, Prussia, Austria.

American Revolution

• Colonial discontent with British taxes and governance sparking revolutionary thought.
• 1776: Declaration of Independence; key battles and military strategies.
• 1783: Treaty of Paris; American independence recognized.

French Revolution

• Roots in Enlightenment ideals and economic crisis.
• Estates-General called in 1789; National Assembly formed.
• Storming of the Bastille; Declaration of the Rights of Man.
• Abolition of monarchy; rise of radical groups like Jacobins.
• Reign of Terror; execution of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

Napoleonic Era

• Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte; military campaigns across Europe.
• Napoleonic Code; reforming European territories.
• Battles including Austerlitz, Leipzig, and Waterloo.
• 100 Days and final defeat; Napoleon's exile to St. Helena.

Conclusion

• Transition into a new historical period after early modern era transformations.
• Enlightenment and revolutions lay groundwork for modernity.

For further episodes and explorations of historical transitions, continue following the series.