Heliocentric Theory

Description of the discovery

Geocentrism was the first theory of the structure of the solar system which made earth the centre of the universe with all other planets orbiting around it. Geocentrism was later replaced with the discovery of the heliocentric model. The heliocentric model is the theory that positions the sun at the centre of the solar system with all of the planets orbiting around it. The discovery also showed that the moon rotates around in the gravitational pull of the earth.

Year of the discovery

The heliocentric Model was discovered around 200bc but it wasn’t until around the 16th century that it began to gain popularity around the world this was because the technology had advanced and evidence started to build up in its

The main challenge faced was from the Roman Catholic Church, which around the time of the discovery was an extremely powerful organization that considered the theory to be unorthodox. This could have impacted on why Copernicus didn’t publish the theory until he was dying. The Roman Catholic Church did everything in its power to overpower the heliocentric theory, this involved arresting those who promoted the theory including Galileo who was arrested for the remaining eight years of his life. The progress and acceptance of the heliocentric model was slow but after a while overwhelming evidence in favour of the theory saw the heliocentric model replace the geocentric model of the solar

Geocentrism was founded on gods’ creation of earth so everything had to evolve around the earth. The heliocentric model was developed on scientific principles, it explained the natural world, the solar system and the wider universe in a way beyond superstition and religious dogma.

Future implications of this discovery for people on Earth

The discovery of the heliocentric model impacted dramatically on the people of earth. The heliocentric system provided answers for day and night, the seasons, tidal movements and even the weather. The theory impacted the understanding and development of 24 hour time keeping and the annual calendar. The Discovery of the heliocentric model shows that the sun and other planets don’t revolve around the earth, but that the planets in our solar system revolve around the sun.

Since the origins of human existence the sun has been revered as our life source, the heliocentric model now showed the definitive role of the sun, our planet earths’ position in our solar system and the greater universe.

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