Nicolaus+Copernicus

Until the 1600’s astronomy was based on the theory of an Egyptian astronomer, Claudius Ptolemaeus. Ptolemy taught that the earth was the center of the universe, and stayed motionless. He thought the planets moved in circular orbits around earth, but calculations did not agree with his theory. The bible stated that the earth was the center of the earth, and anyone objecting would risk the anger of the church. In the early 1500’scopernicus developed a theory that the planets, including earth, revolved around the sun. Copernicus also thought that the planets rotated on an axis. New discoveries and Galileo supported his theory.