Nicolaus Copernicus
"I can easily conceive, most Holy Father, that as soon as some people learn that in this
Book which I have written concerning the revolutions of the heavenly bodies, I ascribe certain motions to the earth, they will cry out at once that I and my theory should be rejected."
- Nicolaus Copernicus
1543, To Pope John Paul III, Dedication to The Revolutions of Heavenly Bodies.
The youngest of four children, Nicolaus Koppernigk was born February 19, 1473 to Barbara Watzenrode and Nicolaus Koppernigk. His father, also named Nicolaus Koppernigk was a wealthy copper merchant who had relocated his family from Kracow to Torun. Technically German, when Torun ceded to Poland, Copernicus became a Polish citizen, thus his first language was German but he also spoke Latin fluently as well as some Polish. During his education at Krakow he changed his name to the Latin form, Nicolaus Copernicus. This would be the name that would be remembered for his brilliant works.
In 1483, when Nicolaus was 10 years old his father died. His mother’s brother, his uncle, took guardianship of him and his three siblings. His uncle, Lucas Watzenrode, was a well- respected Cleric who would eventually become bishop of Warmia. His uncle valued both the church and education and made it a priority that Nicolaus receive a good education as well as advancing in the church.
Nicolaus stayed in Torun, and finished his elementary education there. In 1488 he went to Wloclawek cathedral school where he got his proper humanist education. In 1491, he enrolled in the University of Kracow. It is believed that this university ignited Nicolaus’ interest in astronomy, astrology and mathematics. Records from the library during his stay confirm his budding interests ...
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...iander to light.
Over the next 50 years Copernicus’s book would slowly make its way across Europe. In 1566 a second edition was published without the false preface. The church denounced the book and Copernicus for “going against the bible”, but eventually began to accept it and allow it to be taught. Copernicus’s work was profound and changed the direction of Astronomy. It dared to challenge the notion that the Earth was the center of the universe, and that heavenly matter was unchanging and perfect. Over the next several hundred years Brahe would observe, Kepler and Newton would pour over the numbers and they would find the Copernicus’s model had underlying truths, some flaws, but with tweaking and vigilant observations of the celestial motions it would be the basis that lead them to the model we know today. Bringing forth what we know as the Copernican Revolution.
First of all, what Copernicus was trying to say about Orbit and the Earth that
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Julius Caesar was a strong leader of the Romans who changed the course of the history for the Roman world decisively and irreversibly. With his courage and strength, he created a strong empire and guided the empire for almost 20 years. His life was short, but had many adventures. I will tell of some of this man’s remarkable life. He did many things, therefore, I will only discuss a few. His name, part of his reign, one of his greatest battles, and his death will be told.
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