Ptolemy

Second century astronomer, who believed the earth was the center of the universe.

Copernicus

In his 1543 book, he stated that the universe was centered around the sun, and that the earth rotates on an axis each day.

Galileo

A mathematician, that used a telescope to make observationas such as, planets were made of substance just like the earth, the moon has mountainsk and Jupiter has four moons. The church did not like his ideas at all.

Newton

In his book Principia, he discussed the law of gravitation.

Descartes

The father of modern rationalism said "I think therefore I am."

Bacon

A philosopher who developed the scientific method.

Locke

This man believed that every person was born tabula rasa and were shaped by their experiences.

Montesquieu

Believed that England had three branches of government and it worked best through a system of check and balances and a separation of powers.

Voltaire

Had a strong belief in religious tolerance, natural law, and reason.  He also wrote the book Treatise on Toleration in 1763

Diderot

Larry Sander and Jimmy Wales, co-creators of Wikipedia, thank this man because he created the first encyclopedia.

Smith

Wrote The Wealth of Nations in 1776 and believed that the government should have only three basic roles: protecting society from invasion, defending its citizens from injustice, and keeping up certain public works. 

Rousseau

Believed the emotions, as well as reason, were important to human development.  He sought a balance between heart and mind, betweeen emotions and reason.

Wesley

An Anglican minster who had a mystical experience, and started a new religious movement called Methodism.

Bach

An organist, who is considered one of the greatest composers of all time.  His most famous work it titled Mass in B Minor.

Mozart

A child prodigy who wrote of the work's most famous operas, The Marriage of Figaro.

Jefferson

Used ideas from Enlightenment thinkers when he  penned the United States Constitution.

Kepler

He confirmed Copernicus' idea, but also used astronomical date to prove the planets orbited the sun in an elliptical motion.