Blog 6

I thought it was interesting how science and religion were in the same chapter. In the book it said "science became a universal world view"(pg 740) just as religion did so it makes sense that they're together. I never would have thought of them otherwise like that. Interesting how far science has come since then. It is sad that "science also was used to legitimize racial and gender inequalities, giving new support to old ideas about the natural inferiority of women and enslaved people" (pg 740). By the twelfth and thirteen centuries, Europe developed a legal system that guaranteed a measure of freedom and independence which then allowed emerging universities to freely study and dictate. The freedom to explore other cultures (Islamic world and translations of Greek classics) is
interesting because learning and exploring always sparks ideas which makes sense in relation to the growth of the scientific revolution. I wonder if Galileo was the start of the war between science and religion like it is today because back then it was a difficult concept to grasp when Galileo challenged the traditional idea that the earth was the center of the universe. Then it was Newton. It was also interesting to learn that none of the earliest scientists rejected Christianity. However some early writers would go as far as calling Jesus, Moses and Muhammed impostors. This marked the beginning of going against traditional beliefs and thinking for yourself. An idea that seemed to be prominent during the enlightenment. Kudos to Rousseau for taking steps towards gender equality and openly stating that human virtue will not advance unless women are also educated.
Enlightenment led to some vital discoveries and inventions of the nineteenth century that were the building blocks to many of today's discoveries.