Advancements4

George King 
 * Q: 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 astronomers, inventors, navigators, EXPLORERS, and so on working at this time? WHAT ARE THEIR LEGACIES? **

 During the Elizabethan Era there were many useful inventions many of which we still use today. This was still the time where people believed in magic and sorcery, and although there were people that did there were still very brilliant minds. There were many inventions of this time period as science and technological advancements grew. Some of these inventions are the pencil in 1565, the telescope in 1590, the thermometer in 1592, the wooden submarine in 1624, and the merry-go-round made in 1680. Swiss physician invented the pencil and naturalist Konrad von Gerner used a writing instrument that resembled a pencil in 1565. The pencil became more popular in 1795 according to "Richard Platt the writer of Inventions (page 24)". It may be one of the most commonly used inventions of this time. Galileo made the telescope in 1590. Although this is not one hundred percent proven, Galileo probably invented based on evidence, according to Platt. The telescope evolved into an invention that has branched into many different forms and uses also according to Platt. The thermometer another highly used invention, which Galileo also created. Instead of mercury that thermometers use today, this used water. As the temperature went up, the liquid level would go down. This was a very crude thermometer but set the stage for better more efficient thermometers also according to Platt. Some very interesting inventions of the time were the wooden submarine and the merry-go-round. The submarine was first constructed of wood and leaked badly. It functioned but not very well it was only submerged 13ft under the water. Oarsmen who rowed the boat, according to Platt, propelled the submarine. The submarine was covered in greased leather, which was supposed to stop leaks. The merry-go-round could have been a Turkish invention in 1620 when it was used at a fair; there is very little known about this fairground amusement. Within the next century the merry-go-round was one of the most popular fair amusements in the next century. The creativity of these great inventors led to some of the most time altering inventions in history that still impact us today.

Sources Used: Platt, Richard. //Inventions//. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1994. Print. Lace, William. //Elizebethan England//. Franington Hills: Thompson Gale, 2006. Print. "Elizabethan Inventions." //Elizebethan Era// n. pag. Web. 12 Apr 2010. .