The scientist “who made the Earth a planet” is how the Harvard-Smithsonian astronomer Owen Gingerich refers to Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543). Copernicus’ path breaking book, On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres,challenged the centuries-old belief that the Earth stood stationary at the center of the cosmos.
A Totally New Concept
By day, Copernicus, who had studied law and medicine, was an officer of the Catholic Church in northern Poland. At night, he studied the skies and made mathematical calculations that explained how the Sun was at the center of the cosmos, and the Earth, like the other planets,revolved around it.Worried that his conclusions were at odds with what the Church and most people believed, Copernicus delayed publishing his book. He believed he would be “hissed off the stage,” if the book appeared in print. But a younger scholar from Germany named Georg Joachim Rheticus paid a two-year-long visit to Copernicus and helped him prepare his book for publication. In March 1543, On the Revolutions appeared in Nuremberg, Germany. Two months later, on May 24, as 70-year-old Copernicus lay on his deathbed, he saw the printed version for the first and last time.
Denne historien er fra January 2017-utgaven av Dig Into History Magazine for Kids and Teens.
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Denne historien er fra January 2017-utgaven av Dig Into History Magazine for Kids and Teens.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Worshiping Heaven
For almost 500 years, emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties offered sacrifices and prayers at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.
Peace Reigns
The news spread throughout Egypt—a new pharaoh, Ramses III, now sat on the throne.
Problems To The East
Ramses III, the second king of Egypt’s 20th Dynasty, is viewed as Egypt’s last truly great pharaoh.
The Successors
Following the death of Ramses III, eight pharaohs, all named Ramses, ruled Egypt.
Stone Code
Hundreds of ships, led by the French general Napoleon Bonaparte, sailed from France in May 1798 on a secret mission.
Up & Away!
Eclipse observers often face unexpected difficulties, sometimes on their way to their chosen sites and sometimes at a site itself.
Edison's Eclipse Adventure
Thomas Edison (1847–1931) is the best-known inventor in American history.
Digging Up Copernicus
The scientist “who made the Earth a planet” is how the Harvard-Smithsonian astronomer Owen Gingerich refers to Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543). Copernicus’ path breaking book, On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres,challenged the centuries-old belief that the Earth stood stationary at the center of the cosmos.
Demosthenes & Cicero
Even today, more than 2,000 years after they lived, Demosthenes and Cicero are still considered two of history’s most outstanding orators.
Confucius & Socrates
Some teachers are so inspirational that their influence lives on long after they die.