The Copernican Revolution refers to the major shift in astronomy and science that occurred in the 16th and 17th centuries when the geocentric model (Earth at the center of the universe) was replaced by the heliocentric model (Sun at the center of the solar system).
Here’s a breakdown:
🌍 Before Copernicus:
- The dominant view was the Ptolemaic model, where Earth was considered the unmoving center of the universe.
- This idea was deeply rooted in both Aristotelian philosophy and Christian theology.
☀️ Enter Copernicus:
- In 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus published “De revolutionibus orbium coelestium” (“On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres”).
- He proposed that the Sun (not the Earth) was the center of the universe, and that the Earth rotates daily and orbits the Sun annually.
🔄 What changed:
- Astronomy: This model simplified the explanation of planetary motions (like retrograde motion).
- Philosophy & Science: It challenged long-held beliefs and opened the door to scientific inquiry based on observation and mathematics.
- Figures like Galileo, Kepler, and Newton built on Copernicus’ ideas, eventually solidifying the heliocentric model and launching the Scientific Revolution.
Why it’s called a “Revolution”:
It didn’t just change astronomy — it transformed how people understood their place in the universe and how science should be done. It was a radical shift in worldview.