Geocentric and Heliocentric Theory
What are These Two Theories?
Geocentric theory means that the earth is in the center of the universe. The moon and the other planets including the stars all have their own orbit. The belief was very popular in China and ancient Greece and greatly expanded on by the leading thinkers of the day: Aristotle and Ptolemy. Ptolemy was mostly credited with taking geocentric theory mainstream. The theory started to die when the telescope was invented. Heliocentric theory means that the sun is in the middle of the universe and the planets orbit around it. Scientists were able to gain evidence that the sun is in the middle. Nicolaus Copernicus devised his version of the heliocentric theory. He published his theory in a book called, "On the Revolution Of the Heavenly Bodies". The Catholic Church, which was powerful in Copernicus' time, considered the theory not real. After Cpernicus died, the church tried hard to suppress the heliocentric theory.
How was Society Influenced by the Two Theories?
Geocentric theory influenced society by showing that the earth is most important. People believed the theory because the Catholic church said so and that meant that they
were right, because they were the most powerful at the time. Heliocentric theory influences society by making our scientists invent the telescope and other devices
that are used to help us see the universe a lot more. The person who invented the telescope wanted to see if the Sun or if the Earth was at the center of the universe by observing other planets and stars.
were right, because they were the most powerful at the time. Heliocentric theory influences society by making our scientists invent the telescope and other devices
that are used to help us see the universe a lot more. The person who invented the telescope wanted to see if the Sun or if the Earth was at the center of the universe by observing other planets and stars.
Which Theory is True and Which is False?
The geocentric theory was proved wrong in the 1600s when the telescope was invented. The heliocentric theory was proved right when they started to look into space for evidence that the sun is in the middle of our universe.
Facts about Galileo
Galileo was a man who believed in the heliocentric theory. He developed the telescope. He also was the one that sent a letter to the Catholic church telling them about the Heliocentric Theory and some of his enemies showed the pope, who believed in the geocentric theory. The pope put him under house arrest. He was under house arrest for eight years. He was also forced to no longer talk about heliocentric theory. Eight years after his arrest he became ill. He was not permitted to leave his house to see a doctor and so he died.
Facts About Ptolemy
Ptolemy drew a map of the world in the year 160 C.E. which was not accurate. However, of all the ancient Greek mathematicians it is fair to say that his work has generated more discussion and argument than any other. Ptolemy was born in Hermiou which is in Upper Egypt where Alexandria is. Most of Ptolemy's early works are dedicated to Syrus who may have also been one of his teachers in Alexandria. Little is known of Syrus and it is not for certain that he taught Ptolemy. We do know that Ptolemy used observations made by Theon the mathematician, and this was almost certainly Theon of Smyrna who almost certainly was his teacher.
Facts About Aristotle
Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle was born in around 384 B.C. Aristotle enrolled in Plato’s Academy. Aristotle maintained a relationship with Greek philosopher Plato. he was a student of Socrates, and his academy for two decades. With Alexander’s permission, Aristotle started his own school in Athens, called the Lyceum. Marine biology was also an area of fascination for Aristotle. In his treatise Meteorology, Aristotle also dabbled in the earth science. By meteorology, Aristotle didn’t simply mean the study of weather, he was actually writing about how the universe works. Although many of his views on the Earth were controversial at the time, they were adopted and popularized during the late Middle Ages.
Facts About Nicolaus Copernicus
might of been born of German heritage, by the time he was born, Torun had ceded to Poland, rendering him a citizen under the Polish crown. In 1491, Copernicus entered the University of Cracow, where he studied painting and mathematics. Though he did not take astronomy classes at that time. he started to developed a growing interest in the cosmos, and started collecting books on the topic. In 1500, after completing his law studies in Bologna, Copernicus went on to study practical medicine at the University of Padua. one thing he did say was,
"To know that we know what we know, and to know that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge."-Nicolaus Copernicus.
"To know that we know what we know, and to know that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge."-Nicolaus Copernicus.
Works
Cited
Aristotle
Biography.
N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
< http://www.biography.com/people/aristotle-9188415?page=2>.
Britanncia
School Edition.
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< http://school.eb.com/all/eb/article-9036445?query=geocentric%20theory&ct=null>.
Claudius
Ptolemy.
N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
< http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Ptolemy.html>.
The
Copernican Model: A Sun-Centered Solar System.
N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.
<http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/retrograde/copernican.html>.
Geocentric
Theory.
N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
<http://science.jrank.org/>.
"Geocentric
Theory." Britannica image Quest.
N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013.
< http://quest.eb.com/images>.
Heliocentric
Theory.
N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
<http://vserver1.cscs.lsa.umich.edu/~crshalizi/White/astronomy/heliocentric-theory.html>.
Cited
Aristotle
Biography.
N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
< http://www.biography.com/people/aristotle-9188415?page=2>.
Britanncia
School Edition.
N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013.
< http://school.eb.com/all/eb/article-9036445?query=geocentric%20theory&ct=null>.
Claudius
Ptolemy.
N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.
< http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Ptolemy.html>.
The
Copernican Model: A Sun-Centered Solar System.
N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013.
<http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/retrograde/copernican.html>.
Geocentric
Theory.
N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
<http://science.jrank.org/>.
"Geocentric
Theory." Britannica image Quest.
N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013.
< http://quest.eb.com/images>.
Heliocentric
Theory.
N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
<http://vserver1.cscs.lsa.umich.edu/~crshalizi/White/astronomy/heliocentric-theory.html>.