Nicolaus Copernicus (1473– 1543) Born on February 19, 1473 in Torun, Poland to a wealthy family

Studied painting, math, medicine and then law. Study of law offered him job as a cannon for a church which helped him to fund his studies.

Later developed keen interest in Astronomy

Heliocentric Solar SystemPtolemy invented the a geocentric planetary

Model, which was in consistence with Aristotle’s idea that celestial bodies moved in a circular fashion around a fixed point. Earth.

Copernicus showed through mathematical systems that Earth was revolving and heavenly bodies were stationary

Why was his work controversialIt challenged the authority of Catholic Church It went against the teaching of Bible, which

suggested that the earth was the center of the system

Acceptance of this theory would have brought Bible’s teaching into question, which could have caused a chaos because people strongly believed in the power of church.

Church held an important place as a government al institution