Copernicus- Rebellion
In the late 1400's to the mid 1500's, people believed that the earth was the center of the universe. Ptolemy stated that the Earth was stationary and that the sun, moon, planets, and stars revolved around imaginary points, which in turn revolved around the Earth. Copernicus knew that nature acted in the simplest ways, so he questioned why the planets would move in such a ponderous scheme of circles (Bolton 5). Copernicus made long and careful observations of the stars and planets throughout most of his life and was convinced that the geocentric theory of the universe was incorrect (Siedel 26). Afraid to denounce his theory, Copernicus did not publish the book of his theories, Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, until four weeks before his death on May 24, 1543 (Siedel 27). Copernicus was skeptical to the thinking during the time he was alive because Aristotle and Ptolemy's theories of the universe were based on religion and gods. As predictions made in agreement to their theories became more and more inaccurate, Copernicus searched for an explanation that was closer in agreement with his observations of the planets and stars. Copernicus rebelled against the powers that be by studying heavenly bodies in accordance to his own the
Nicolaus Copernicus studied the planets and stars almost his whole life and in an age when the Church enforced it's creed with iron rigidity, Copernicus dared not differ and record his convictions for a very long time. It contained detailed accounts of the motions of the Earth, moon, and planets. It also provided diagrams and tables showing the course of each planet and predicting it's position in relation to the Earth, This work was a monumental contribution to human knowledge (Siedel 27). As time went on the Copernican theory gradually became accepted and Newton proved Copernicus correct with the law of universal gravitation (Blow 16). Ptolemy's theory was so entwined with matters of the church and scriptures that it remained absolutely unquestioned for 1400 years. Both Catholics and Protestants rejected his radical ideas but it was not long before his theories began to be accepted (Blown 14). Convinced that it contained a basic error, he set about finding it (Siedel 27). By publishing his book Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, he challenged all men to observe, to question, and to think independently (Siedel 27) Today, to be the Copernicus of any movement means to show honesty and freedom of though, as did the old monk who lived a life of monumental importance and solitude in the monastery gardens at Frauenburg over four centuries ago (Bolton 2) . Copernicus's heliocentric theories of planetary motion could account for the apparent daily and yearly motion of the sun and stars and it neatly explained the apparent retrograde motion of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn and the fact that Mercury and Venus never move more than a certain distance from the sun. Copernicus was a very religious man and he was hesitant to denounce his theory for fear of being charged with heresy. Copernicus also stated that the planets also circle the sun (Westman). Copernicus studied for many years and increasingly questioned the Ptolemaic system of astronomy. Copernicus's theory retained many features of the cosmology that it would soon replace. As Copernicus once explained it, "In the midst of all dwells the sun, and so, as if seated upon a royal throne, the sun rules the family of planets as they circle around him. The geocentric theory of the universe was also such a cornerstone of the medieval Christian faith that to challenge it was the same as arguing with the scriptures (Siedel 26).
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