Advancements1

Prepared by: Maahum M.** During the 16th and 17th century there were numerous amounts of scientific related discoveries, explorations, and inventions. The Medieval and early Renaissance understanding of the natural world was influenced by two Greek philosophers, according to Paul Lee Brown, author of “//The Renaissance.”// Aristotle and Plato had a great effect on the scientific views of the time but both had very different theories. Aristotle believed that the world operated on a system of logical and universal laws. On the other hand, Plato believed the world surrounding us is a projection, “a similar imitation of an external world that humans cannot comprehend” (Brown 10).
 * WHAT SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENTS, EXPLORATIONS, DISCOVERIES, AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS WERE MADE DURING SHAKESPEARE’S LIFETIME? WHO WAS SIR FRANCIS DRAKE? WHAT IS HIS LEGACY? WHO WERE FAMOUS ASTRONOMERS, INVENTORS, NAVIGATORS, EXPLORERS, AND SO ON WORKI****NG AT THIS TIME? WHAT ARE THEIR LEGACIES?

An ancient astronomer, Ptolemy had created another theory. He believed that Earth was the center of the universe and everything surrounds Earth, known as the geocentric model. Another astronomer studying the Earth’s movement was Copernicus. In the late 15th century-early 16th century, he suggested that the Sun was at the center of the universe. Other astronomers who came after Copernicus were Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, and Galileo Galilei. In 1608, Galileo created a device, the telescope, that helped proved the theory of Copernicus to be true. Once the theory of Copernicus was revealed, the Church of England felt threatened. Brown explains, “Church leaders realized that part of the fabric of their Christian teaching was threatened by the Copernican theory, they conspired with the papal authorities to have Galileo’s work suspended” (Brown 10). The Church feared new discoveries that went against the understanding of God and the creation of Earth.

In addition to new discoveries, Queen Elizabeth commissioned an expedition for three men to sail around the world. On the webpage, “Sir Francis Drake and the Circumnavigation”//,// Wally Peterson states, “On December 12, 1577, Sir Francis Drake, John Winter, and Thomas Doughty set sail from Plymouth to the Spanish controlled rock of Gibraltar. Drake led the ships through the dangerous Straits of Magellan between August 20 and September 6, 1578.” On February 15, 1579, Drake found out that the Nuestra Senora de la Comcepcion, with San Juan de Anton as captain, was sailing to Panama, so he decided to sail there. Also on the online article “Sir Francis Drake and the Circumnavigation”, “Drake found the Nuestra Senora de la Comcepcion again on March 1, 1579. San Juan de Anton was wounded by an arrow during Drake's attack and surrendered the ship. With almost no blood shed, Drake had gained the ship and the cargo of gold, silver, flour, and other goods.” On September 26, 1580, Drake returned to Plymouth. The day Sir Francis Drake anchored in Plymouth, he became the second man to circumnavigate the world, and the first Englishman to accomplish this. For a reward, he was given a green silk scarf embroidered with the words “The Almighty by your Guide and your Protector to the End,” on the __Elizabethan England website__, “Sir Francis Drake and Circumnavigation.

The time during Queen Elizabeth’s ruling brought much curiosity to many scientists, inventors, and explorers. Their search for answers threatened the Church, which limited their knowledge and destroyed many observations. Despite the potential for amazing advancements, because of the Church, many things were left unknown.

**Here are some interesting pictures of some scientists during the Elizabethan Era:**

Above is a photo of the scientist Copernicus

Located here is a picture of Galileo, a very famous scientist and inventor, known for the telescope.

This picture shows the ancient scientist, Ptolemy.


 * Look at some of these cool pictures below!

** This is the telescope Galileo invented that proved the Copernican theory true

This is a model of Ptolemy's theory, that the earth is the center of the universe. This picture represents the Copernican theory, that the sun is the center of the universe.


 * Click on some of these links to learn more about the scientists by these links!**

Click here to watch a video explaining Ptolemy's theory!

Read over this website talking about Galileo's telescope!

media type="youtube" key="P1S4AsyIT1E" height="305" width="383" Above is a video discussing Galileo, an early scientist, and the scientific disputes arousing at the time.

PICS- add into essay, on the side 

**Works Cited**


 * Books:**

1. Hilliam, Paul. //Elizabeth I: Queen of England's Golden Age//. New York: Rosen Publishing Group, 2005. 40-51. Print.

2. Hilliam, Rachel. //Galileo Galilei: Father of Modern Science//. New York: Rosen Publishing Group, 2005. 23-40. Print.

3. Lace, William. //Elizabethan England//. Thomson Gale, 2006. 69-80. Print.

4. Lee-Brown, Paul. //The Renaissance//. Evans Brothers Limited, 2003. 8-14. Print.


 * Websites:**

1. Peterson, Wally. "Sir Francis Drake and the Circumnavigation." //Elizabethan England//. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar 2010. .