Advancements2

Brent Mackman Lit 2 4/7/10

Question 8 Answer prepared by: Brent Mackman When you think of the 1550’s to the 1700’s you think about the great writing of Shakespeare. You must also think of the advancements. There were so many advancements at this time it was incredible. The Compound Microscope was invented in Netherlands in 1590 by an eyeglass-maker by a man by the name of Hans Janssen. Very few people used this until Robert Hooke improved it 75 years after it was invented. Another advancement were the calculators made in France in 1623. The calculator was very successful and often used today. Another advancement was a prophylactic made in Italy in 1560. This like today helped to prevent diseases. Diseases back then were even more common then they are now. Its value in reducing pregnancy was only recognized in the 1800’s. All these inventions helped to put us forward. A very famous explorer was Sir Frances Drake. He was an English explorer. He was born anytime between 1540 and 1545 on a farm near Tavistock in Devon. He was the navigator of a small merchant ship at the age of ten, which was abnormal in those days. At sixteen he became captain of his own vessel. He was an officer on West African slave ships. Like Sir John Hawkins(also a famous privateer), he also became a privateer sail for the Americas. What I found interesting was he also fought in the Spanish War help ing defeat the Spanish Armada like many other explorers of this time. The most interesting thing about him though is that he circumnavigated the world. This would be a difficult task for someone in our century even. This shows that he had great navigating and sailing skills. Sir Frances Drake had an incredible legacy, which is hard for people now a day to live up to.

There were a lot of astronomers, inventors, and of course explorers. A famous English explorer of that time was Sir Walter Raleigh. In 1558 he led 108 men to the Roanoke Island in June. On June fourth it became a Virginian colony. Another great English explorer of the time was Sir John Hawkins. He went on voyages to West Africa and South America. Although, what I found interesting was that he acted as a double agent in a plan to kill Queen Elizabeth and foiled his plans. He became Queen Elizabeth’s privateer. This is a pirate authorized by an authority to attack enemy treasure ships. Galileo was a great astronomer and inventor of the time. He built a telescope at home from which he observed Venus and conquered that the sun was the center of the universe. In the late 1600’s is when Isaac Newton was born. Although Galileo made a telescope, Newton’s advancements to it was a big contribution to science. These are a few of many people that greatly contributed to our world, as we know it today. When thinking of this time period I will not only think about the great writing of Shakespeare, but also the great inventions, explorations and so much more. This has caused me to belief without some of these men we would not be were we are today.

Bibliography Books Platt, Richard. // Inventions //. Newyork, Newyork: Dorling Kindersley Publishing inc., 1994. 24-26. Print. Many Authors,. // Shakespeare's England. // Newyork, Newyork: Amerian Heritage publishing co., 1964. 41. Print. Many Authors,. // Explorer //. Newyork, Newyork: Dorling Kindersley Limited, London., 24 and 25. Print. Marrin, Albert. // The Sea King // .Newyork, Newyork: Virginia Norey., 1995. 7-10. Print.







[|http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siNKv_qrGLc]