Century of Genius

In European history, the 17th century is considered to be a “century of genius” because of the many advancements and inventions during this time period. There were a great number of intellects who excelled in every field. The 17th century witnessed the work of individuals ranging from Bernini to Galileo. It is popularly viewed as the time of modern science, but the works in architecture and art also showed the importance of this time period. Many historians argue whether this time period was actually a century of genius or just a coincidence. The improvements in science, art, and architecture show how the 17th century was truly a century of genius. One area where there was a clear advancement was in science. Many consider the 17th century to be a scientific revolution as it led to many groundbreaking theories, inventions, and view on the world. The scientists of this day shared many characteristics which made them successful in developing their theories and creating their inventions. These scientists were not restricted to the field of science alone. In fact, many were mathematicians, psychologists, philosophers, astronomers, etc. They also shared a common goal, to focus on explaining what is outside of earth, while leaving us with theories that affect people to this date. The three most influential scientists of this time period, who show why this period is considered to be a century of genius, were Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton, and Johannes Kepler. Galileo, considered to be the great grandfather of modern physics, was the first legitimate scientist of this era who created a foundation for many more scientists to come and developed theories that went against the teachings of the church. In about 1609, Galileo worked with other scientists to come up with the first refracting telescope to help them observe stars, planets, and moons. Through this telescope, Galileo was able to observe the many changes of the Earth’s moon. He also discovered the four major moons