Nicholas Copernicus
Nicholas Copernicus was born in Torun, Poland in 1473. His father died when he was around ten years old, so he lived with his uncle. His uncle was the bishop of Ermland. He had a wonderful childhood education, and went on to study at University of Krakow in 1491. There he developed his love for astronomy, but studied law and medicine. He became a doctor of law in 1503 and had a big participation in the humanist movement, as seen in his translation from greek into latin of a Byzantine Poet’s letters. He was appointed canon in 1503 by his uncle, and later he also served as a secretary and physician to the bishop. He was cannon his entire life, even as he was studying astronomy …show more content…
He believed that the planets moved around the sum, not that all planets orbited around the earth. The old theory that the planets rotated around the earth is called the geocentric theory. Copernicus did not invent this theory, he simply brought it back, or re--stated it. The Greeks believed in the heliocentric theory, so it was by no means brand new. He also said that the earth rotated on an axle. Copernicus especially supported this idea to make astronomical predictions more accurate. He also wanted a better foundation for astrology and the calendar. He wanted math and psychology to connect in an approach to astronomy. Copernicus was afraid to publish this because of fear of being called a heretic by the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church officially supported this theory, and anyone who expressed belief in Nicolaus Copernicus’s geocentric theory was at risk of being declared a heretic. So instead of publishing, he circulated his ideas to other astronomers. One astronomer named Georges Joachim Rheticus convinced him to publish a book. Copernicus wrote On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres and it was published in 1543. The book did not start to reach its full potential until the seventeenth century. That period of time has been called the “Copernican Revolution”. It is said that by restating the heliocentric theory, Copernicus began the Scientific
Nicholas Copernicus was born in Torun, Poland in 1473. His father died when he was around ten years old, so he lived with his uncle. His uncle was the bishop of Ermland. He had a wonderful childhood education, and went on to study at University of Krakow in 1491. There he developed his love for astronomy, but studied law and medicine. He became a doctor of law in 1503 and had a big participation in the humanist movement, as seen in his translation from greek into latin of a Byzantine Poet’s letters. He was appointed canon in 1503 by his uncle, and later he also served as a secretary and physician to the bishop. He was cannon his entire life, even as he was studying astronomy …show more content…
He believed that the planets moved around the sum, not that all planets orbited around the earth. The old theory that the planets rotated around the earth is called the geocentric theory. Copernicus did not invent this theory, he simply brought it back, or re--stated it. The Greeks believed in the heliocentric theory, so it was by no means brand new. He also said that the earth rotated on an axle. Copernicus especially supported this idea to make astronomical predictions more accurate. He also wanted a better foundation for astrology and the calendar. He wanted math and psychology to connect in an approach to astronomy. Copernicus was afraid to publish this because of fear of being called a heretic by the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church officially supported this theory, and anyone who expressed belief in Nicolaus Copernicus’s geocentric theory was at risk of being declared a heretic. So instead of publishing, he circulated his ideas to other astronomers. One astronomer named Georges Joachim Rheticus convinced him to publish a book. Copernicus wrote On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres and it was published in 1543. The book did not start to reach its full potential until the seventeenth century. That period of time has been called the “Copernican Revolution”. It is said that by restating the heliocentric theory, Copernicus began the Scientific