1)   What was the cultural importance of Ptolemy’s Geography?

Ptolemy’s Geography gave the opportunity to the scholars to map the world for the first time. He defined the discipline of geography and established the principles of global mapping. Renaissance geographers produced new editions of the Geography, therefore they used Ptolemy’s principle to map the expanding world. Ptolemy believed that the sun and the planets revolved in concentric spheres around a stationary earth.

2)   How was the concept of mutability connected with Ptolemy’s view of the universe?

Ptolemy also thought that below the moon there was the “world of mutability” and above it the “world of permanence”. Therefore he believed the world was in motion and its events were changeable.

3)   How did Copernicus question Ptolemy’s view of the universe?

Copernicus was inspired by a mathematics professor to question the medieval astronomical model. He proposed Aristarco’s heliocentric model of the universe: he thought the sun was at the centre of the solar system with the other planets (including earth) moving circularly around it.

4)   What was Galileo’s contribution to the development of astronomy?

Galileo Galilei invented the telescope in 1609. It allowed to prove that the earth turns around the sun. He also estabilished the scientific method, which consisted in the study of the physical world by sensory observation, experiment and by mathematical measurement.

5)   How was the microcosm studied at universities?

People studied astrology at universities. The teaching asserted that the human microcosm could be understood by reference to macrocosm of all creation. Indeed, traditional medicine linked bodily illness and rhythms to the motions of the planet and the influence of the twelve signs of the Zodiac.

6)   How was the chain of beign organized?

People thought there was an hierarchical system that linked the different orders of life: firstly there was the inanimate class (it was made up by the elements, liquids and metals), then the vegetative class, next there was the animal class (at the top there was the man) and finally there were the angels.

7)   What position did man occupy in the chain?

The man occupied the third position but he was on the top of the “animal class” because he had existence, life, feeling and understanding. He also had the unique function to link all creation together.