哥白尼的天文革命This astronomer changed the way people understood the world History credits this astronomer with moving the earth by Chip Ewald。
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) changed the world by challenging the common beliefs of his time. He completely altered the way people thought about their world and the universe. Thanks to Copernicus' theories, the entire Western world began to shift its perspective from an Earth-centered universe to a sun-centered system.
The broadly educated student
Copernicus was born into a wealthy merchant family in Poland in 1473. When his father died, 10-year-old Copernicus moved in with his uncle, who later became a Roman Catholic bishop. While raising Copernicus, his uncle directed both the boy's advancement in the church and his education.
Copernicus began his university studies at the University of Cracow where mathematics, astronomy and astrology sparked his interest. But he left before finishing his degree, as was common at the time, and went to work for the church in Frombork. Then he followed in his uncle's footsteps by studying at the University of Bologna. While there, he lived with Domenico Maria Novara, the school's chief astronomy professor. Novara was probably the first person Copernicus had ever met who dared to challenge the 1,400-year-old conclusions of that era's paramount astronomer:Ptolemy.
From Bologna, Copernicus went on to the University of Padua to study medicine, which at the time was closely linked to astrology. While studying how the movements of the heavens' spheres affected a person's health, Copernicus became an expert on the night sky. Settling at the University of Ferrara, his Fourth and final university, Copernicus obtained his first and only degree: a doctorate in canon law. With his broad education complete, Copernicus returned to Frombork in 1510 to resume his duties with the church.
The revolutionary astronomer
In Copernicus' day, Europe believed the Earth sat motionless at the center of the universe.
People were convinced the sun, moon and planets revolved around the Earth, and the second-century Greek astronomer Ptolemy has "proven" it with mathematics.
Although busy with church work, Copernicus made time for his scientific work, finding several problems with Ptolemy's Earth-centered model. More significantly. Copernicus found that a sun-centered model with a revolving Earth fit the data much better. Although centuries of tradition and superstition suggested otherwise, mathematical calculations convinced Copernicus that Earth was not fixed at the universe's center. Instead, he realized Earth moved with the other planets in yearly revolutions around the sun.
While his conclusions would answer astronomers' questions, Copernicus was well aware that "Moving the Earth" would shake the foundations of everyone else's worldview. So sometime before 1514, he carefully revealed his conclusions, gradually introducing them in an essay he sent only to various colleagues in philosophy and astronomy. Over the next several years, he refined his results while his theory circulated around Europe, spreading his reputation as a remarkable astronomer.
In 1539, a young mathematician named George Rheticus came to study under the seasoned 66-year-old astronomer. Fascinated by his conclusions, Rheticus worked with Copernicus to publish an introduction to his sun-centered universe model. Its success pushed Copernicus to complete and publish his entire, massive six-volume work, On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, at the end of his life. Legend holds that Copernicus held a published copy of his life's work on his deathbed on May 24, 1543. In subsequent years, astronomers built upon Copernicus' conclusions, continuing to challenge the previous perspective. By the 1700s, it was nearly impossible to find an astronomer who wasn't convinced of the Copernican model's accuracy.
Copernicus' impact on both astronomy and how we pursue knowledge today has truly been astronomical.
More Information
When you study history not everything is neat and orderly Copernicus nationality, for example, has been hotly debated for many years. It stems from the fact that Copernicus was living in a German speaking territory which happened to belong to Poland. This is why some encyclopedias state Copernicus was Polish but others say Copernicus was a child of a German family under the authority of the Polish king.
Grammar Tips
Although busy with various priestly responsibilities, Copernicus made time for his scientific work...
Although Copernicus was busy with various priestly responsibilities, he made time for his scientific work.
When there are two clause with same subject, we can make sentence simple and direct to the point:
Although+subject+be+adjective, subject+verb=Although+adjective, subject+ verb
Although Andy was angry at his younger brother, he still helped him clean his room.
although angry at his younger brother, Andy still helped him clean his room.
Although Kathy was confused with the map, she didn't want to stop and ask someone for directions.
Although confused with the map, Kathy didn't want to stop and ask someone for directions.
Vocabulary Tips
perspective-看法，觀點 spect-有“看”的意思
*The award-winning movie looks at the Civil War from a slave's perspective.
*The new manager brought a fresh perspective to our department.
astrology-摘星學 astr-指“星星” logy-指“某种學理”
*People study astrology because they believe the stars influence their futures.
astronomy-天文學
paramount-至高無上的，最重要的 para-有“超越）的意思mount-山。
*There are many important factors in running a school, but providing outstanding teaching is paramount.
astronomer-a person who study in astronomy
resume-重新開始，再繼續 re-再一次
*The manager resumed his job right after his surgery.
*Bobby resumed reading after he answered the phone.
revolving-旋轉，運轉。
*There are many satellites revolving around the earth.
*The earth revolves around the Sun once a year.
revolve around someone or something-以某個對象或事物為中心
*Our lives revolve around our kids.
superstition-迷信， 或是迷信的行爲。
*Few people still believe in the old superstition that the number 13 is unlucky.
*Superstition and ignorance kept the tribes people from communication with the outside world. 迷信加上無知。。。。不與外界溝通.
seasoned-使調适, 有鍛煉的.經驗豐富,經驗老到的.
* The seasoned traveler eventually became a writer and recorded all of his experiences in a book. 經驗老到的旅遊者.
*The seasoned real-estate agent has many faithful clients.
hold- lift, hand on to it with hand. Here means "believe" 原意是"抓住,握住". 此指"認爲", " 相信"
legend holds that-傳説中相信
Legend holds that Mozart could compose music spontaneously. 莫扎克可以即興作曲.
astronomical-天文的,天文學,此延伸為"龐大的,極大的". astr=star.
*The new computer system can process astronomical amount of data in a very short period of time.
Chat Room
Nicolaus Copernicus followed in his uncle's footsteps.
followed in someone's footsteps-承襲衣缽的意思， 步上後塵，跟著他的腳步走，繼承某人的職志。
take after someone-（家庭中）遺傳到某人的。。。，來自于某人的。。（長相，特長）
a chip off the old block-一塊木頭掉下來的碎片，通常用來讚美某人的長相，言行擧止很像他的父親或母親。
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Doctor-博士，或醫生
a doctor degree=a doctorate =PH.D = doctor of philosophy 博士學位
philosophy-哲學，（希臘）愛好智慧
a Doctor of Philosophy in Literature 文學博士
a Doctor of Philosophy in Physics.-物理博士
a Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy-哲學博士。
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assay-文章, 報章上的短文,評論等.
paper-報告,較長篇的.
research paper-研究報告.
college assay-大學入學作文,(自傳,可自由發揮的,招生委員會可以從學生的自傳中對學生有更深得民心了解.
assay-報章上的短文,或評論. post on the Op-Ed Section
Op-Ed.=Opinion and Editorial 觀點和編輯.
the Op-Ed Section-專欄,專欄作家,資深的媒體人,評論家的專欄.
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