Monday 14th October Cosmological revolution
Before the cosmological revolution:
Medieval cosmology:
The earth was at the centre of the universe
The church has the authority
The bible contains the actual truth about creation
All science must be in line with the Bible
The earth is flat
The Church’s view:
Science was based on the Bible’s account of creation in Genesis
Nicholas Copernicus:
Born in Thorn, Poland. Had a good education. Copernicus’ contribution to the astronomical history was large and it had a huge impact. He changed the way of thinking, not only astronomically but also religiously. Catholic teachings were based on an earth centred universe. The earth centred universe was the idea that the universe was earth centred. Another theory was that the earth was in the centre of the universe, and that the other planets including the sun were orbiting around the earth. De revolution Orbium coelestium was written in 1530 but did not publish until after his death in 1543. Copernicus was afraid of the church and their reaction to his discovery.
Galileo:
Galileo was an Italian physics mathematician astronomer and philosopher. In 1614 Galileo was accused of heresy (beliefs that opposed the Christian doctrine) for his support of the Copernican theory that the sun was at the centre of the solar system. This was revolutionary at the time when people believed that the earth was at the centre. In 1616, he was forbidden by the church from teaching and even promoting such theories. In these times, the idea of space and the universe was completely different to what we know now.
Tycho Israhe:
Tycho Brahe (1540-1601) was a Danish astronomer who is best known for his discovery of a supernova un the constellation Cassiopeia in 1572. Brahe was a pioneer in developing astronomical instruments and in measuring and fixing the positions of the stars. His observations were the most accurate before the telescopes were found.
Cosmological revolution:
The cosmological revolution was the change of views. The cosmological revolution did challenge the belief in God as this scientific ideology no longer corresponded to religious belief. Instead this contradicted the biblical beliefs: