The Scientific Revolutions

 

Developed by Denise Allan, Abraham Lincoln High School; Marjorie George , Franklin D. Roosevelt High School; and Irwin Pressman and Jeff Winograd, Sarah J. Hale High School. 1998


Aim
What factors contributed to the development of scientific knowledge?

 

Performance Objectives
Students will be able to:

  • Compare and contrast beliefs of the "People of the Book" - Islam, Christianity and Judaism
  • Evaluate similarities and differences in beliefs of Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism
Teacher's Note: It is important for students to comprehend that they are talking about "religious" systems as well as "philosophical" systems. That is why we prefer to use the express "belief systems." This mini-unit can really be used to consolidate ideas related to beliefs through all the early periods of man's history (as well as his/her pre-history). We have included a wide range of documents , some of which will be unfamiliar to the student while others may have already been read. When dealing with religions and belief systems, it is important not to over-simplify the basic tenets of each in an effort to generalize.


Materials
4 handouts - 9 copies of each for 34 students.

  • Vocabulary: technology, cultural diffusion, revolution.
  • Discuss the factors which contributed to the development of scientific advancement.
  • Identify and discuss the differences between scientific thought and technology.
  • As a case study, identify two achievements of Islamic science.
  • Analyze what factors contributed to that scientific revolution.


Note
This lesson uses Islamic society as a vehicle for studying the dynamics of change in scientific thought. We expect that teachers will apply this to other scientific revolutions including but not limited to Europe.


Materials

  • Chart Technology of Ocean Navigation from World History: Connections to Today (Prentice Hall; 1997) Elisabeth Gaynor Ellis and Anthony Esler, page 373.
  • Arab Contributions to Civilization by Ruth Afifi, Aseel Nasir Dyck and Audrey Shabbas. From Arab World Studies Notebook (AWAIR) pages 273 - 282
  • Short descriptions of zero, Copernican system and astrolabe from Infopedia (Softkey; 1996) (computer encyclopedia)


Suggested Motivations

  • Is there anyone who wants to be a scientist? (Likes science?)
  • Why might a person want to become a scientist?
  • Why would a scientist want to read or study the works of other scientists?
  • What does it mean in the 1990s to be a scientist? What does a scientist do?
Bring in various objects such as a compass, abacus, etc., and discuss the origin of the objects and its use(s).


Development
Illicit "What factors aid in the development of scientific revolutions?" using the following story: If you are Muslim you are supposed to pray facing Mecca five times a day.

  • How would you know which direction to face?
  • Why would it be important to you as an individual and for Islamic society as a whole to develop technology which would allow you to discover this information?


Board Notes
I. What factors aid in the development of scientific revolutions?

    A. Cultural diffusion-- the spread and blending of culture and ideas between peoples.
    B. Societal or personal purpose
    C. Necessity or usefulness
Questions and concepts for discussion
    1. [The concept of a revolution as a major change should be discussed if this has not already been discussed in class.] What is a revolution?
    2. How can such conditions help to contribute to the development of a scientific revolution? (major changes in scientific thought)
    3. What is the relationship between science and technology? (Science being theoretical thought and technology between practical application of that thought.)

II. Scientific Thought and Technology

    A. Scientific thought = development of theories about the laws of nature.
    B. Technology = application of theory into devices.
Case study of Islamic Scientific Revolution. Suggested topics are astronomy and medicine.

Questions for discussion

    1. Would you consider these developments in Islamic science scientific thought or technology? Explain.
    2. Argue and give examples supporting or disproving the idea that the above factors contributed to the development of science in Islamic society?


Summary
How can these factors be applied to help us understand scientific revolutions in other societies (including modern scientific revolution)?

How can an absence of these factors inhibit revolutions in scientific thought?


Application
What developments in science and technology do we see today?

What factors do you think have contributed to these developments?

 

rerurn to the lesson