ABSTRACT
The first scientific revolution began in Catholic Europe with the work of a Pole, Nicolaus Copernicus. In the seventeenth century the focus of scientific activity shifted from Italy to Protestant northwestern Europe, especially to England and the Dutch Republic. The new science was limited to research in physics and astronomy, but it held the promise of discoveries in other areas. Nicolaus Copernicus believed that the sun and not the earth was the center of the solar system. The next important astronomer was Johannes Kepler, who was born in Germany, the son of a professional soldier. In 1604 Kepler himself observed another supernova. In 1610, while Kepler was still alive, Galileo burst onto the scene like a supernova. Galileo was able to create a telescope with a magnifying power of about thirty times normal. Great scientists began to appear in northwest Europe. During the seventeenth century the small Dutch Republica produced many fine examples, especially Christian Huygens and Antonie van Leeuwenhoek.
