Advancements5

**Answer prepared by: Ryan S. ** Magic, witchcraft, astrology, exploration, medicine, innovations, mathematics, alchemy. All these ideas were the forefront of all sciences of the Elizabethan Era. Everyone wanted to know about something; meaning that knowledge for a particular subject was more important to people of this time period than anything else. When we look up to the stars, we see life light-years away. Different theories about stars and planets and suns arose constantly during this time. Francois Laroque, author of __The Age of Shakespeare__, stated that, “The Elizabethan concept of the universe was still based on the theories of the Alexandrian astronomer Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.).” Where all seven other planets and the sun revolve in a geocentric (below left), circular pattern. But in 1543, Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus believed in a heliocentric (below center) universe where everything revolved around the sun. But his works were not publicized because his hypothesis went against the church’s beliefs. But in1609, his works were confirmed by Johannes Kepler and later in 1610 by Galileo Galilei. “Astrology continued to be part of the curriculum of the universities” (Laroque 101) Medicine on the other hand was, “unreliable and somewhat hazardous” (Laroque 106). Many of its theories were still influenced by those of the Greek physician Galen (2nd century A.D.). Many of these so-called remedies were created from the scraps of a street; ineffective against major devastations like the Black Plague. But its ineffectiveness encouraged people to rely on astrologer, philosophers, and scientists for dire help. Some include those like John Dee (below right) and Edward Kelley. During the Elizabethan times, people believed that there were four humors or fluids that represented the four major elements on earth. “Black bile, was cold and dry, like earth; phlegm was cold and wet, like water; blood was warm and humid like air; lastly choler was hot and dry, like fire,” (Laroque 104-106). 
 * __What scientific advancements, EXPLORATIONS, DISCOVERIES, AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS were made during Shakespeare’s lifetime? WHO was SIR FRANCES DRAKE? WHAT IS HIS LEGACY? Who were famous astromers, inventors, navigators, EXPLORERS, and so on working at this time? WHAT ARE THEIR LEGACIES? __**

As more and more ideas and beliefs arose, so did the world of invention. The __Smithsonian Visual Timeline of Inventions__, a Dorling Kindersley Book states that in 1565, “Swiss physician and naturalist Konrad von Gesner described the use of a writing instrument resembling a pencil.” This was completely unheard of because the only writing instrument known was a quill and ink. But look how far pencils have come till today. In 1590, Dutch Hans Janssen and his son used two magnifying lens, attached to both sides of a narrow tube, to look closer at tiny objects. This was the first model of a compound microscope ever created. Over time this invention was modified over and over again. Another magnifying innovation was the telescope. The origin of the telescope is still a mystery, but the first person to make it famous was the astronomer Galileo in 1609. He was the first person to apply its “magnificence” to astronomical observation. Four years after the creation of the pencil, explorers began to question the truthfulness of maps of the 6th century. In 1569, “German mathematician and engineer Gerhardus Kremer, known as Mercator, devised a greatly improved projection that allowed navigators to plot an accurate course anywhere on the globe,” (__Inventions__ 24). The Mercator Projection Map was the first effective way to map the earth accurately, even with all of it curves.



The Mercator Projection Map was created for the sole purpose of exploration itself. Before 1492 when Cristobol Colon – or Christopher Columbus – sailed across the “Sea of Darkness” and into the Caribbean, no one knew what was out in the vast ocean. Columbus’s find was start of the thousands of voyages into the Atlantic ocean. Two year after Columbus’s feat, the Treaty of Tordelsillas was signed by all two major naval nations at the time; Spain and Portugal. This treaty gave the Spanish all the land west of the line of the Treaty and all the land east belonged to Portugal. Many years later, after Portugal losses its power, Great Britain is given the right to explore all that was east of the line. Britain looked for exploration for two reasons; to expand their empire, and to give land to those that sought religious freedom. And the west seemed like the best place. The first official colonized town was Jamestown of 1620. But before colonization was even up for grabs, one Sir Francis Drake found something else for grabs; Spanish booty. Starting from Britain in 1576, Drake was the first to circumnavigate the globe by ship – the Golden Hind (Turnpike 68) – and trying to find the Northwest Passage from the western side of the continent. Though, his greatest feat of all, plundering multiple Spanish ships. His whole voyage had been a total success and his audacity, toward a country that would kill him if they got the chance, showed how spirited and loyal Sir Francis Drake was for his people and his country. Drake lived from 1540/1545 – January 28, 1596; he died with honor and bravery in his heart, like a true sailor of the seas.



“And bold and hardened adventures to undertake…leaving his country for his country’s sake.” -Charles Fitzoffrey, Sir Francis Drake, 1596 (Marrin //preface//) **

Works Cited ** Colter, Britany. "Elizabethan Astrology." //Elizabethan Era//. www.elizabethan-era.org.uk Inc., Mar. 20, 2008. Web. . Kindersley, Dorling. //Smithsonian Visual Timeline of Inventions//. 1st ed. New York, NY: Dorling Kindersley Publishing Inc., 1994. pg 24. Print. Knopf, Alfred A. //Eyewitness Books: Explorer//. 1st ed. London, UK: Alfred A. Knopf Inc., 1991. pg 22. Print. Laroque, Francois. //The Age of Shakespeare//. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Harry N. Abrams Inc., 1993. pg 100-101, 104-107. Print. Marrin, Albert. //The Sea King: Sir Francis Drake and his Times//. 1st ed. New York, NY: Pixel Press, 1995. Print. Turnpike, Sherman. //Explorers and Exploration: The Golden Age of Exploration//. 2nd ed. Danbury, CT: Grolier Educational, 1998. pg 68-69. Print.