History exam terms
Copernicus 1473-1543
Summary
Catholic canon astronomer
Traditional account derived from Ptolemy that put the earth at the centre of the cosmos with the moon, stars, and planets fixed. Beyond this dwelt the gods and heavens.
The sun revolved around the earth… okay there
1543 copernicus attacked that account in his treatise on the revolution of the celestial spheres (De Revolutionibus orbium coelestium)
Argued it was mathematically simpler to calculate orbits if the earth and planets revolved around the sun, known as heliocentrism (sun centered universe)
Truth claims in print, Copernicus did not say his model was true, but only that it produced the best results (for Calendars, e.g.)… thus it was easier to accept than other shit… he was still afraid of the church though and didn’t publish his treatise until near his death because of it
Significance
Essentially played a major role in the beginning of scientific
The 'Scientific Revolution' from Copernicus to Newton has been attractive because it fits the Enlightenment picture of the transition from feudalism to modernity and the vision of rational, objective sciences and technologies that lead society along the path of progress
His view attracted widespread attention where astronomers collected evidence to undermine Ptolemaics view… His work stimulated further scientific investigations, becoming a landmark in the history of science that is often referred to as the Copernican Revolution.
Tycho Brahe and more importantly Johannes Kepler were influenced by him
Kepler provided evidence for heliocentrism and proved planetary motion is circular
Newton used keplers laws to figure out gravity between sun and planets; thus Copernicus>Kepler>Newton>Physics
Galileo galilei gave more evidence to support heliocentrism
important as scientist because they helped the thinking break free from the restraints set on them by the Church.
This caused numerous destructive consequences for the...