COPERNICAN REVOLUTION

In the 6th century, Ptolemy introduced the geocentric model which described the absolute
perception of the universe with the Earth as its center which was thought to be true by most of the
people at that time.

People questioned what created days and nights. They wanted to understand what heavenly
bodies like stars, moons, and planets are. The invention of the telescope allowed the people to take
peek at the outer space, but more importantly, it also intrigued them to know what was actually out
there. Many Greek philosophers and intellectuals wrote about planets in attempt to explain the
movements of heavenly bodies and their effects on the world as they knew it. many of these
philosophers agreed that planets moved around in circular motion, and that these movements created
days and nights, among others.

Claudius Ptolemy, stated that the planets, as well as the sun and the moon, moved in a circular
motion around the Earth. The sun and moon's revolution explained the existence of days and nights. He
believed that the Earth was at the center-a concept known as geocentrism.

Nicolaus Copernicus, a Polish mathematician and astronomer, challenged the Ptolemaic model. He
introduced the concept of heliocentrism, which suggested that the center of the Solar System was not
the Earth but actually the sun. This idea was rejected at first by the public. It appalled many since their
religious belief had taught them that the Earth was created before all other things. Copernicus was even
persecuted as a heretic because his teachings were against what was widely accepted by religion.

After some time, astronomers realized that the Copernican model simplified the orbits for planets. It
also answered issues that could not be explained by geocentric model. Other works that supported this
model started to emerge as well. It was eventually accepted by the people in a period which was called
the birth of modern astronomy. This era began what was known as the scientific revolution which
resulted in the transformation of society's thoughts and beliefs.