Western Civilization II / Unit 5 WC2 0426 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Sequencing the Scientific Revolution, 1543 to 1687
The idea
The exam hands you the revolution's landmarks out of order. The method is two fixed points, Copernicus's book in fifteen forty-three and Newton's in sixteen eighty-seven, which the witness calls the revolution's beginning and end, with Galileo's trial in sixteen thirty-three as the midpoint.
In practice
Place six events. Brahe's observations: the late sixteenth century, after Copernicus and before Kepler, who used them. Kepler's laws: the early seventeenth century, from Brahe's data. The Starry Messenger: sixteen ten, inside Kepler's working life. The Dialogue: sixteen thirty-two, the year before the trial. The Royal Society: sixteen sixty, after the trial and before the Principia. Harvey's circulation: the sixteen twenties, between Galileo's telescope and his trial. The order reads Copernicus, Brahe, Kepler, the telescope, Harvey, the Dialogue, the trial, the Royal Society, Newton.
Where people slip
The anchor misdates the Royal Society and the Académie to one year; the witness gives sixteen sixty and sixteen sixty-six, and both fall after the trial and before Newton either way. Locke's Essay of sixteen ninety comes after the whole chain.
Your place on the trail
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