Copernicus Nicolaus Copernicus lived from 1473 to 1543

The New Copernican Model of the Cosmos

Portrait from Jan Matejko's painting - end of the 19th century.

The “times” of his life During the lifetime of Copernicus: *Columbus sailed to the New World. During the lifetime of Copernicus: *Columbus sailed to the New World.

*Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

*Martin Luther defied the Roman Catholic Pope and created a new sect of Christianity called Protestantism.

Um, not that Martin Luther—this one!

And the upshot of all this is? Well, the Renaissance was in high gear and Europe was undergoing quite rapid and profound change. Well, the Renaissance was in high gear and Europe was undergoing quite rapid and profound change. New worlds were being discovered on Earth. New worlds were being discovered on Earth. A new vision of painting and art was wowing the masses. A new vision of painting and art was wowing the masses. And a new Christian faith was inspiring some to piety and others to over a hundred years of warfare across central Europe. And a new Christian faith was inspiring some to piety and others to over a hundred years of warfare across central Europe.

Here’s the rub-- After centuries of being a powerful political and religious force across Europe, the Catholic Church was facing unprecedented challenge from the new Renaissance wealth, humanist worldview and the new Christian Protestants were putting the Church in the crosshairs, so to speak. After centuries of being a powerful political and religious force across Europe, the Catholic Church was facing unprecedented challenge from the new Renaissance wealth, humanist worldview and the new Christian Protestants were putting the Church in the crosshairs, so to speak.

“Humanist” ? It became fashionable during the Renaissance to believe that maybe “ Man ” could run things on Earth with or without heavenly help. Europeans were still going to church, but they were beginning to get the idea that people could do great things too. It became fashionable during the Renaissance to believe that maybe “ Man ” could run things on Earth with or without heavenly help. Europeans were still going to church, but they were beginning to get the idea that people could do great things too.

As the famous humanist phrase went, “Man is the measure of all.”

And Copernicus? Not just C but also Galileo was considered a troublemaker for just adding to the already tricky position the Church was in, with all those forces against it. Not just C but also Galileo was considered a troublemaker for just adding to the already tricky position the Church was in, with all those forces against it. Remember, C was one of their own, a priest and for a priest to seem to go against the Church—Heresy! Remember, C was one of their own, a priest and for a priest to seem to go against the Church—Heresy!

Sadly, Copernicus did not have an air-tight case It would take another hundred years for it all to be sorted out with heliocentrism. It would also take the work of four others: Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei and Sir Isaac Newton. We ’ ll meet these guys next…