Scientific Revolution

The scientific revolution refers to the history of science in the early modern period, where development in mathematics, physics, astronomy, biology, medicine and chemistry transformed views of society and nature. According to traditional accounts, the scientific revolution began in Europe towards the end of the Renaissance era and continued through the late 18th century, the later period known as The Enlightenment. While its dates are disputed, the publication in 1543 of Nicolaus Copernicus's De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres) and Andreas Vesalius's De humani corporis fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human body) are often cited as marking the beginning of the scientific revolution. By the end of the 18th century the scientific revolution gave way to the "Age of Reflection".

Philosopher and historian Alexandre Koyré coined the term scientific revolution in 1939 to describe this epoch.