The Enlightenment's Impact On Europe During The Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, people did not challenge the view on society. When the Renaissance began, some people began to question the way things were. This new way of thinking was what is now called the Enlightenment. Some of the enlightened thinkers had a huge impact on society that people still see today. The enlightened thinkers impacted Europe because of their ideas about science, human rights, and government. During the Enlightenment, scientists began challenging the current beliefs and theories. One of the most influential scientists was Nicolaus Copernicus. He developed the heliocentric theory, which said the sun was the center of the solar system. It was the first major challenge to accepted scientific thinking. Also, Galileo Galileio discovered the law of the pendulum and built his own telescope, making new discoveries about astronomy that supported Copernicus's theory. His findings spread throughout Europe. Issac Newton also had a large contribution to the enlightened Europe. He explained the laws of motion, which disproved the ideas of Aristotle. Another way enlightened thinkers changed Europe was through new …show more content…
One of the main influences was the Baron de Montesquieu. He believed that the power over a nation should be separated among different branches. His ideas about the separation of powers became the foundation of the US Constitution. A second major thinker was Thomas Hobbes. He thought that the best way to govern a nation was with an absolute monarchy. He believed that this would create law and order. The last philosopher, John Locke, had a very different view from Hobbes. He believed in three natural rights. They were life, liberty, and property. If a leader does not protect these rights, he believed that the citizens have a right to overthrow their leader. This helped influence people to rebel against their leaders in Europe and