An expanding world

In this text I’m going to write about the geographical discoveries, that in the way or in another had changed the worldviews.

During the 2th century AD the Alexander astronomy Ptolemy had written the Geography. In Ptolemy’s view of the universe the sun and the planets revolved in concentric spheres around a stationary earth. America’s discovery compelled Renaissance geographer to produce new edition of the Geography trying to map also the new expanding world. New cultural influences led to the development of new astronomical theories. Nicolaus Copernicus set the basis of modern astronomy. He created a new model of the solar system in which the sun was at the centre and the earth and the other planets moving in a combination of circular movements around it. Galileo Galilei’s telescope proved that the earth turns around the sun. Italian astronomers also established the scientific method that is the study of the physical world by sensory observation, experiment and by mathematical measurement.

The human microcosm could be understood by reference to the macrocosm f all creation. The different order of life was linked by a hieratical system. First there was the inanimate class, next the vegetative class, then there was the animal class and finally the angels. Man occupied the top of the animal class because he had not only existence but also understanding. Man was also linked with the angels through the community of understanding. So, given his double nature of matter and spirit, he had the unique function of linking all creation together, also passion and reason.

Exercise 2 page 66

1. From the cultural point of view, Ptolemy’s Geography was important because defined the discipline of geography and laid down the principles of global mapping. Therefore, for the first time, Renaissance geographer try to map the new expanding world.
2. In the Ptolemy’s view of the universe mutability was placed below the moon; instead above it there was the world of permanence. This was connected with the center position of the earth symbol of permanence and themovement of the sun and planets that represents the mutability.
3. New cultural influencesputincrisisthe concepts ofPtolemy.Indeed Copernicus created a new model of the solar system in which the sun was at the center, with the earth and the other planets moving in a combination of circular movements around it.
4. The development of astronomy was helped by Galileo’s telescope. It proves than the earth turns around the sun, moreover he established the scientific method.
5. Microcosm was functional to understand the macrocosm of creation, because at the time there was a hierarchical chain that connected the inanimate matter with the angelic intelligences.
6. At the baseof the chainareinanimate beings,on the following stepthe plants,then animalswiththe man at thetop, and then the angels.
7. Man occupied the top of the animal class because he had not only existence but also understanding. Man was also linked with the angels through the community of understanding. So, given his double nature of matter and spirit, he had the unique function of linking all creation together, also passion and reason.