Scientific Revolution
Scientific Revolution
Prior to the Renaissance, most Europeans believed that the Earth sat at the center of the universe, with the sun and other heavenly bodies rotating around it. In 1543, however, an astronomer and mathematician named Copernicus published a work entitled On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres. He argued that it was actually the sun that sat at the center of the universe. He also asserted that the Earth, along with other planets, rotated around the sun and that the moon rotated around the Earth. His findings are largely credited as marking the beginning of modern understanding about the universe.
Another brilliant mathematician and astronomer, Johannes Kepler, expanded on Copernicus’ work. Kepler more accurately documented the paths of the planets’ rotations. He showed that they actually rotated following an elliptical course (egg-shaped) with the sun sitting towards the end of the ellipse rather than at the center of a circular rotation. Galileo was the first known scientist to regularly observe the universe using a telescope. Through his observations, Galileo gained knowledge regarding the surface of the moon as well as the planets. His work confirmed many of Copernicus’ theories and made the Catholic Church very upset. The Church felt that Copernicus’ conception of the universe contradicted the Bible and considered Galileo a heretic (someone who teaches false ideas about God). Galileo eventually recanted many of his findings under pressure from the Church. Eventually, an Englishmen named Isaac Newton tied together the work of Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo and explained how gravity is responsible for planetary motion.
Prior to the Renaissance, most Europeans believed that the Earth sat at the center of the universe, with the sun and other heavenly bodies rotating around it. In 1543, however, an astronomer and mathematician named Copernicus published a work entitled On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres. He argued that it was actually the sun that sat at the center of the universe. He also asserted that the Earth, along with other planets, rotated around the sun and that the moon rotated around the Earth. His findings are largely credited as marking the beginning of modern understanding about the universe.
Another brilliant mathematician and astronomer, Johannes Kepler, expanded on Copernicus’ work. Kepler more accurately documented the paths of the planets’ rotations. He showed that they actually rotated following an elliptical course (egg-shaped) with the sun sitting towards the end of the ellipse rather than at the center of a circular rotation. Galileo was the first known scientist to regularly observe the universe using a telescope. Through his observations, Galileo gained knowledge regarding the surface of the moon as well as the planets. His work confirmed many of Copernicus’ theories and made the Catholic Church very upset. The Church felt that Copernicus’ conception of the universe contradicted the Bible and considered Galileo a heretic (someone who teaches false ideas about God). Galileo eventually recanted many of his findings under pressure from the Church. Eventually, an Englishmen named Isaac Newton tied together the work of Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo and explained how gravity is responsible for planetary motion.