Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
The witch craze in Britain, Europe and North America, c1580–c1750 - 2 The…
Full specification wording
Paper 3, Option 33: The witch craze in Britain, Europe and North America, c1580–c1750 - 2 The wider intellectual context: the coming of the age of science and reason: Making sense of the universe and its impact, c1580–c1750: the coexistence of new and older ideas and impact of Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton.
This topic explores how people made sense of the universe between c1580 and c1750, focusing on the coexistence of new and older ideas and the impact of Kepler, Galileo and Newton.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 2
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
This topic explores how people made sense of the universe between c1580 and c1750, focusing on the coexistence of new and older ideas and the impact of Kepler, Galileo and Newton. Older ideas included Aristotelian cosmology, a geocentric universe and biblical literalism. Kepler used elliptical orbits to refine heliocentrism; Galileo's telescopic observations and mechanics supported Copernicanism but clashed with the Church; Newton's Principia (1687) unified terrestrial and celestial motion through universal gravitation. These developments did not immediately replace older beliefs; astrology, providence and witchcraft beliefs coexisted with mechanical philosophy, and the new science gradually reshaped educated views of nature and the supernatural.
What earns the marks
- Explains the coexistence of new and older ideas, including Aristotelian cosmology, geocentrism and biblical literalism alongside heliocentrism and mechanical philosophy.
- Analyses Johannes Kepler's contribution, especially elliptical orbits and his refinement of heliocentric theory, and how this challenged older perfect-circle astronomy.
- Assesses Galileo Galilei's impact through telescopic observations, support for Copernicanism and conflict with religious authority.
- Evaluates Isaac Newton's Principia (1687) and universal gravitation as a synthesis that explained both terrestrial and celestial motion.
- Connects these scientific developments to changing intellectual contexts, including the decline of witchcraft beliefs among elites and the rise of reason and natural law.
- Recognises limits: older ideas persisted, and the new science was not immediately accepted by all, so change was gradual and uneven.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Presenting the Scientific Revolution as an instant replacement of old ideas.
Put it right: Emphasise coexistence, gradual acceptance and regional variation.
Attributing heliocentrism solely to Galileo or Newton.
Put it right: Acknowledge earlier contributors such as Copernicus and Kepler's refinement of orbits.
Assuming Newton's work ended witch beliefs directly.
Put it right: Explain indirect influence through changing views of natural law and providence, alongside other factors.
Exam tips
- Use specific works and dates, such as Kepler's elliptical orbits, Galileo's telescopic observations and Newton's Principia (1687), to support arguments.
- When discussing impact, distinguish between intellectual elites and popular beliefs, and between short-term controversy and long-term change.
- Link scientific developments to the wider theme of changing attitudes to witchcraft without claiming simple causation.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 3, Option 33: The witch craze in Britain, Europe and North America, c1580–c1750 - 2 The wider intellectual context: the coming of the age of science and reason: Making sense of the universe and its impact, c1580–c1750: the coexistence of new and older ideas and impact of Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which of the following was a key figure in making sense of the universe during the period c1580–c1750?
Listen
This topic explores how people made sense of the universe between c1580 and c1750, focusing on the coexistence of new and older ideas and the impact of Kepler, Galileo and Newton. Older ideas included Aristotelian cosmology, a geocentric universe and biblical literalism. Kepler used elliptical orbits to refine heliocentrism; Galileo's telescopic observations and mechanics supported Copernicanism but clashed with the Church; Newton's Principia (1687) unified terrestrial and celestial motion through universal gravitation. These developments did not immediately replace older beliefs; astrology, providence and witchcraft beliefs coexisted with mechanical philosophy, and the new science gradually reshaped educated views of nature and the supernatural. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains the coexistence of new and older ideas, including Aristotelian cosmology, geocentrism and biblical literalism alongside heliocentrism and mechanical philosophy. Analyses Johannes Kepler's contribution, especially elliptical orbits and his refinement of heliocentric theory, and how this challenged older perfect-circle astronomy. Assesses Galileo Galilei's impact through telescopic observations, support for Copernicanism and conflict with religious authority. Evaluates Isaac Newton's Principia (1687) and universal gravitation as a synthesis that explained both terrestrial and celestial motion. A common slip: Presenting the Scientific Revolution as an instant replacement of old ideas. Instead, emphasise coexistence, gradual acceptance and regional variation. Exam tip: Use specific works and dates, such as Kepler's elliptical orbits, Galileo's telescopic observations and Newton's Principia (1687), to support arguments.
Key words
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Coexistence of new and older ideas
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Reason and natural law
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Changing attitudes to the supernatural
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Universal gravitation
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See every definition
- Coexistence of new and older ideas
- Older ideas such as Aristotelian cosmology, a geocentric universe and biblical literalism persisted alongside heliocentrism and mechanical philosophy, so the new science did not immediately replace older beliefs.
- Reason and natural law
- Their rise formed part of the changing intellectual contexts connected to these scientific developments and to the decline of witchcraft beliefs among elites.
- Changing attitudes to the supernatural
- Astrology, providence and witchcraft beliefs coexisted with mechanical philosophy, while the new science gradually reshaped educated views of nature and the supernatural.
- Universal gravitation
- Newton's Principia (1687) unified terrestrial and celestial motion through it, a synthesis that explained both.
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