In my opinion, the three most important movements that transformed Western Civilization should still apply to our lives. I feel that the rise of Christianity, Scientific Revolution, and the Industrial Revolution are the three most important events in past. I will back up my opinion with fact based on my beliefs, notes, and text books required by class, in hope that I can cover the basis of these very broad areas.The reasons for the rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire can be attributed to a series of events. The "good emperors" had a long, prosperous reign that was ending around A.D.180, which set the tone of the Empire suddenly changing from the prosperity of good government into ...view middle of the document...
Jesus Christ's life stories were another helpful piece of the puzzle which helped the religion grow. Jesus' love, friendship, and miracles were known and seen by many which gave them faith in their salvation. So Christianity flourished and will continue to prosper throughout mankind's existence even though Rome did not. (Spielvogel 120-123) The scientific Revolution was an intellectual revolution concerning theories about humanity's place in the universe and appealed primarily to the middle and upper classes in Europe. Many medieval universities sprung up during this revolution, which developed great thinkers like Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton, those that advanced the thoughts about the world's truths.(Spielvogel 348-350) Copernicus was a Polish clergyman and astronomer that was very involved in the sky above. He was one of the first to theorize that the sun was at the center of the universe and the earth, planets, and stars revolved around the motionless sun. Copernicus lead others like Galileo to follow his footsteps toward the truth of the skies. (Spielvogel 350, 351) Galileo was a teacher of mathematics and eventually grew fond of the skies and invented the first telescope. Using this telescope, he discovered moons orbiting other planets and saw the heavens in a way that had never been seen before. He also developed new laws of inertia and gravitational acceleration. Galileo's theories led Newton to discoveries that revolutionized the way we still think today. (Spielvogel 352-354) Newton came from a lower English gentry, and grew to display brilliance after becoming a professor at Cambridge University with his major work, Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophies, which described the law of gravitation. He also developed a systematic explanation from the findings and theories of Copernicus, Kepler, and Galilo and called it the laws of motion.These great thinkers of the scientific revolution revolutionized the way people thought. This new form...
