Era Summary Characters Timeline Reading Assignments
Character/Date | Short Biography |
---|---|
Science - Astronomy | |
1546–1601 |
Made accurate astronomical observations, used by Kepler to calculate motion of planets. |
1571–1630 |
Proposed Heliocentric theory after studying measurements of Tycho Brahe. |
1564–1642 |
Promoted Heliocentric theory against pressure from the Pope. Invented the telescope. |
1642–1727 |
Outstanding scientist. Made important breakthroughs in physics, optics, and mathematics. |
1738–1822 |
Astronomer who discovered the planet Uranus, improved telescopes, and made many other discoveries. |
Science - Physics/Chemistry | |
1743–1794 |
French scientist, known as the "Father of Chemistry". Discovered oxygen and established the principle of conservation of mass. |
1766–1844 |
Chemist who proposed the atomic theory, and designed experiments to prove it. |
1824–1907 |
Made important discoveries in thermodynamics and electricity. |
1856–1940 |
Discovered the electron, and also the isotope. |
1867–1934 |
A pioneer in the field of radioactivity, and first female winner of the Nobel prize in physics. |
1871–1937 |
Father of nuclear physics. Advocated the orbital theory of the atom. |
Science - Biology/Geology | |
1707–1778 |
Great Taxonomist, who initiated naming conventions and classification of plants and animals. |
1797–1875 |
Influential 19th century Geologist who promoted the idea of doctrine of uniformitarianism (as opposed to catastrophism.) |
1809–1882 |
Proposed the theory of evolution of species. Wrote The Descent of Man. |
Electromagnetism/Communication | |
1745–1827 |
Invented the first usable electrical storage battery. |
1791–1872 |
Inventor of Morse code, a system telegraph transmission widely used before the telephone. |
1791–1867 |
Physicist who was important in the development of electricity and magnetism. |
1831–1879 |
Developed laws defining the behavior of electricity and magnetism. |
1847–1922 |
Inventor of the telephone, and also a founder of a school for the deaf. |
1847–1931 |
Prolific inventor, responsible for improvements in the light bulb, movies, phonograph, and many others. |
1874–1937 |
Inventor of a wireless telegraphy system, first used on ships. |
Medicine | |
1578–1657 |
Medical doctor who described the process of circulation and the role of the heart and blood. |
1749–1823 |
English doctor who developed a vaccine for smallpox. |
1822–1895 |
Renowned scientist in bacteriology. Helped develop germ theory of disease and pasteurization process. |
1827–1912 |
Promoted the idea of sterilization using antiseptics to kill germs on wounds and medical instruments. |
1881–1895 |
Scottish biologist who studied bacteria and discovered the antibiotic properties of penicillin. |
Textiles | |
1720–1778 |
Inventor of an automated Spinning wheel. Founder of the Industrial Revolution. |
1732–1792 |
Inventor of the spinning frame, which allowed water or steam power to spin cloth. |
1753–1827 |
Inventor of the Spinning Mule, which could be used to make fine cloth such as Muslin. |
1765–1825 |
Inventor of the Cotton Gin, and also interchangeable parts for rifles. |
1819–1867 |
American inventor of the sewing machine. His great innovation was the "lock stitch". |
Industry | |
1736–1819 |
Inventor of the Steam Engine, and founder of the Industrial Revolution. |
1765–1815 |
Inventor of Steamboats. Operated the steamboat Clermont on the Hudson River. |
1781–1848 |
Inventor of the steam locamotive, and the modern railroad. |
1800–1860 |
Discovered the process for 'vulcanizing' rubber, and making it far more usable. |
1809–1884 |
Invented the mechanical reaper, which revolutionized agriculture, especially in midwest. |
1813–1898 |
Invented a process for the manufacture of steel, that was of superior quality for a low cost. |
1858–1913 |
German engineer and inventor who developed a practical internal combustion 'diesel' engine. |
1871–1948 |
Inventors of the first practical airplane. The Wright brothers were self-educated bicycle shop owners. |
AD Year | Event |
---|---|
Invention and Industry | |
1764 | James Hargreaves invents the Spinning Jenny, allowing multiple threads of yarn. |
1769 | Richard Arkwright designs a water frame that made it possible to spin strong threads. |
1781 | James Watt invents the Steam Engine—ushers in the industrial revolution. |
1793 | Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin, greatly lowering the price of cotton. |
1807 | Robert Fulton runs the first steam propelled boat on the Hudson river. |
1821 | George Stephenson creates the first practical railroad locomotive; ushers in age of railways. |
1844 | Charles Goodyear receives a patent for vulcanized rubber. |
1847 | Cyrus McCormick establishes a mechanical reaper business in Chicago, revolutionizes agriculture. |
1851 | Elias Howe invents sewing machine, but Isaac Singer succeeds in selling his version. |
1858 | Cyrus Field lays the first trans-Atlantic cable from Ireland to Newfoundland. |
1865 | Henry Bessemer invents a process that greatly improves production of steel. |
1893 | Rudolf Diesel invents an internal combustion engine. |
Electromagnetism and Communication | |
1800 | Alexander Volta invents the first electric battery. |
1831 | Michael Faraday invents a dynamo which uses electromagnetic induction to create a current. |
1836 | Samuel Morse invents the telegraph. First Washington to Baltimore telegraph in 1844. |
1873 | James Clerk Maxwell proposes a theory of electromagnetism. |
1876 | Alexander Graham Bell receives a patent for the telephone. |
1879 | Thomas Edison produces the first practical light bulb. |
1897 | Guglielmo Marconi perfects wireless telegraphy. |
Advances in Medicine | |
1628 | William Harvey publishes 'De Motu Cordis" detailing operation of heart and circulatory system. |
1796 | Edward Jenner develops the first small pox vaccine. |
1861 | Louis Pasteur establishes Germ theory, and develops methods for sterilization. |
1928 | Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin, an antibiotic substances that kills bacteria. |
Astronomy and Heliocentric Theory | |
1543 | Nicholas Copernicus publishes his theory of a heliocentric universe. |
1609 | Johannes Kepler publishes 'Astronomia Nova, a book detailing his theory of eliptical planetary orbits. |
1633 | Galileo Galilei is subjected to the Inquisition for promoting heliocentric theory. |
1687 | Isaac Newton publishes Principia his universal laws of motion. |
1781 | William Herschel discovers of Uranus, improves telescope. |
Science and Discovery | |
1789 | Antoine Lavoisier discovers the element oxygen and law of conservation of mass. |
1805 | John Dalton develops the Atomic Theory of chemistry. |
1827 | Amedeo Avogadro defines the Gas Law relating volume to number of gas molecules. |
1848 | Lord Kelvin establishes the value of absolute zero. |
1859 | Charles Darwin publishes The Origin of Species. |
1865 | Gregor Mendel develops laws of inheritance, establishes basis for genetics. |
1898 | J. J. Thomson discovers electrons, proposes the Plum pudding model of an atom. |
1898 | Madame Curie discovers polonium, radium, and coins the term "radioactivity". |
1900 | Max Planck develops law of black body radiation, basis for quantum theory. |
1909 | Robert Millikan conducts an oil drop experiment, determines charge of electrons. |
1913 | Niels Bohr establishes the Bohr Model of the atom, proposing electronic orbitals. |
1915 | Albert Einstein proposes a general theory of relativity. |
Core Reading Assignments | ||
---|---|---|
Harding - The Story of England | Industrial and Social Changes (1) | |
Bachman - Great Inventors and Their Inventions | Watt and the Steam Engine to Bessemer and Making Steel (9) |
Supplemental Recommendations | ||
---|---|---|
Wright - Children's Stories of the Great Scientists | entire book | |
Gibson - War Inventions | entire book | |
Gibson - Stories of the Great Scientists | entire book | |
Rowbotham - Story Lives of Great Scientists | entire book | |
Gibson - The Wonders of Scientific Discovery | entire book | |
Gibson - Twentieth Century Inventions | entire book |