Major turning points in the world are often due to new discoveries that leave a lasting impression on civilization. Such discoveries challenged beliefs and traditions of every culture in every century. During the medieval period of time, people believed that everything in nature and society were connected and the Earth was thought to be alive and untouchable. Philosophers compared society to a tree, with nobles and clergy on the top branches; merchants were included with …showed first 75 words of 2227 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2227 total…and facilitating in the shaping of Western civilization. The many traditions of the past were challenged by many great minds such as Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton, Bacon, Hobbes, and Locke. At an incredible rate new inventions and discoveries were consecutively made. All of these new findings eventually displaced or altered theological and religious beliefs of the medieval times. In consequence, more and more people developed greater self-confidence in their own abilities to transform the world.