Works of Nicolaus Copernicus. Copernicus, Nicholas
The teachings of Copernicus revolutionized the consciousness of people of the Middle Ages and became the beginning of the formation of a modern worldview. The religious picture of the world that dominated the Middle Ages began to give way to a scientific one. The works of Copernicus gave impetus to the development of astronomy, mathematics, and physics.
Origin
Copernicus's nationality is not precisely determined: some consider him German by his mother's origin, others consider him a Pole by his place of birth. During the life of the scientist, this issue was not fundamental. In writing he used German and the universal language of science of that time was Latin.
Childhood
The small homeland of Copernicus is the small town of Torne, which changed its territorial affiliation, becoming either Prussian or Polish. There were four children in the family; the elder brother became Nikolai’s ally and supported him until the end of his life. The Copernican family was wealthy, the children did not need anything. Another plague epidemic brought misfortune: the head of the family died. A few years later, the mother died. The mother's brother, Uncle Lucas, who later became a bishop, saved the orphans from poverty.
Study and career
Uncle tried to give better education to his nephews. The Copernicus brothers studied at best universities Europe. The path to education was long; obtaining a diploma and scientific title at 35 – 40 years old. Initial stage The Jagiellonian University in Krakow became the center of Copernicus's education, where from 1491 the future scientist studied art. After 1496, the brothers studied law at the University of Bologna. During this period, Nikolai became interested in astronomy thanks to his communication with Domenico Maria Novara, who taught this subject.
The result of the first observations was doubt in the dogmas of the generally accepted theory of Ptolemy. During this period of his life, Copernicus became interested in painting; his works have survived to this day, the most famous being a self-portrait, preserved as a copy. From 1502, Copernicus and his brother studied medicine and theology at the University of Padua, graduating four years later. Thanks to such a deep education, Nicolaus Copernicus became a comprehensively educated person with encyclopedic knowledge, the path to science was open.
Under the influence of his uncle, Nikolai chooses a career as a clergyman, combining it with scientific research. First he became a canon, then he became the bishop's adviser and chancellor. His fate became a reflection of the Middle Ages. So, being the chancellor in the city of Olsztyn, he was appointed responsible for the defense of the city from the Teutons and coped with this task brilliantly. Nicolaus Copernicus practiced medicine a lot. During plague epidemics, he did not turn away from danger, but boldly fulfilled his duty.
Love
Copernicus, as a clergyman, could not start a family. There is information that already in mature age he fell in love with his friend's daughter Anna. The girl lived in his house for some time as a relative and au pair, but they still had to separate.
Scientific achievements
1. Heliocentric system
For more than forty years, Copernicus worked on his main discovery, which immortalized his name in the history of mankind. Using primitive instruments, many of which he made himself, and complex mathematical calculations, Copernicus refuted the teachings of Ptolemy. He proved that the Earth is one of the planets that revolve around the sun. His theory is still far from the modern understanding of the picture of the world, but it was a decisive step forward. Main work“On the Rotation of the Celestial Spheres” was published at the end of the scientist’s life. According to legend, Copernicus saw the first copy of his book before his death. However, real evidence refutes this fact - for several months before his death, the scientist was in a severe coma.
The main provisions of his theory:
- The Earth, like the other planets, moves around the sun.
- The earth rotates around itself, which explains the cycle of day and night.
- Planets move in circular orbits.
- The Earth is the center of gravity of the Moon.
- The sun is motionless.
- The distance between the Earth and the Sun is much less than the distance from the Earth to distant stars.
2. Discoveries in economics. Copernicus proposed a reform of the monetary system and studied the mechanisms of price formation.
3. Discoveries in mechanics. Created unique car, which supplied the entire city with water.
Death
In 1743, after a stroke, Copernicus died surrounded by loved ones. Nowadays, streets, a university, an airport, a crater, and a planet are named after him. Many monuments have been erected. His profile is immortalized on the Polish banknote. On the main square of the Polish city of Torun there is a monument on which is written: “He who stopped the Sun - who moved the Earth.”
The fate of Nicolaus Copernicus is unique for that time, full of dangers. He boldly faced danger and honestly fulfilled his duty. His achievements became an important stage in the development of all mankind.
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Nicolaus Copernicus (Polish: Mikołaj Kopernik, German: Niklas Koppernigk, Latin: Nicolaus Copernicus). Born on February 19, 1473 in Torun - died on May 24, 1543 in Frombork. Polish astronomer, mathematician, mechanic, economist, canon of the Renaissance. He is best known as the author of the heliocentric system of the world, which laid the foundation for the first scientific revolution.
Born in Torun into a merchant family, he lost his parents early. Torun became part of Poland just a few years before the birth of Copernicus; before that, the city bore the name Thorn and was part of Prussia, which belonged to the Teutonic Order.
The question of Copernicus's ethnicity still remains the subject of a (rather unpromising) debate. His mother was German (Barbara Watzenrode), his father's nationality is unclear, but it is known that he was a native of Krakow. Thus, ethnically Copernicus was German or half-German, although he himself may have considered himself a Pole (by territorial and political affiliation). He wrote in Latin and German; not a single document in Polish written by his hand has been found; after early death father, he was raised in a German family by his mother and uncle. Niccolo Komneno Popadopoli spread an unproven - and, according to modern historians, invented by himself - story that Copernicus allegedly enrolled at the University of Padua as a Pole. It should be noted that the concept of nationality in those years was much more blurred than it is today, and some historians suggest that Copernicus be considered a Pole and a German at the same time.
In the Copernicus family, besides Nicholas, there were three more children: Andrei, later a canon in Warmia, and two sisters: Barbara and Katerina. Barbara went into a convent, and Katerina married and gave birth to five children, to whom Nicolaus Copernicus was very attached and cared for them until the end of his life.
Having lost his father as a 9-year-old child and remaining in the care of his maternal uncle, Canon Lukasz Watzenrode, Copernicus entered the University of Krakow in 1491, where he studied mathematics, medicine and theology with equal zeal, but he was especially attracted to astronomy.
Upon graduation from the university (1494), Copernicus did not receive any academic title, and family council decided that he had a spiritual career ahead of him. A strong argument in favor of this choice was that the patron uncle had just been elevated to the rank of bishop.
To continue his education, Copernicus went to Italy (1497) and entered the University of Bologna. In addition to theology, law and ancient languages, he had the opportunity to study astronomy there. It is interesting to note that one of the professors in Bologna was then Scipio del Ferro, with whose discoveries the revival of European mathematics began. Meanwhile, thanks to the efforts of his uncle, in Poland Copernicus was elected in absentia as a canon in the diocese of Warmia.
In 1500, Copernicus left the university, again without receiving any diploma or title, and went to Rome. Rheticus' memoirs say that Copernicus taught a number of disciplines at the Roman university, including astronomy, but other biographers question this fact. Then, after a short stay in his homeland, he went to the University of Padua and continued studying medicine.
In 1503, Copernicus finally completed his education, passed the exams in Ferrara, received a diploma and the degree of Doctor of Canon Law. He was in no hurry to return and, with the permission of his uncle-bishop, spent the next three years practicing medicine in Padua.
In 1506, Copernicus received news, perhaps far-fetched, of his uncle's illness. He left Italy and returned to his homeland. He spent the next 6 years at the episcopal castle of Heilsberg, engaged in astronomical observations and teaching in Krakow. At the same time, he is a doctor, secretary and confidant of Uncle Lukash.
In 1512, the uncle-bishop died. Copernicus moved to Frombork, small town on the shore of the Vistula Lagoon, where he was listed as a canon all this time, and began his spiritual duties. Scientific research he, however, did not quit. The northwestern tower of the fortress became an observatory.
Already in the 1500s, the idea of a new astronomical system was quite clear to him. He began to write a book describing a new model of the world, discussing his ideas with friends, among whom were many of his like-minded people (for example, Tiedemann Giese, Bishop of Kulm). During these years (approximately 1503-1512), Copernicus distributed among his friends a handwritten summary of his theory (“Small Commentary on the Hypotheses Relating to celestial movements"), and his student Rheticus published a clear exposition of the heliocentric system in 1539. Apparently, rumors of the new theory were already widespread in the 1520s. Working on the main task - "On the rotation of the celestial spheres"- lasted almost 40 years, Copernicus constantly introduced clarifications into it, prepared new astronomical calculation tables.
Rumors about a new outstanding astronomer were spreading in Europe. There is a version, not supported by documents, that Pope Leo X invited Copernicus to take part in the preparation of the calendar reform (1514, implemented only in 1582), but he politely refused.
When necessary, Copernicus devoted his energies and practical work: according to his project, a new coin system was introduced in Poland, and in the city of Frombork he built a hydraulic machine that supplied water to all houses. Personally, as a doctor, he was involved in the fight against the plague epidemic of 1519. During the Polish-Teutonic War (1519-1521), he organized the successful defense of the bishopric from the Teutons. At the end of the conflict, Copernicus took part in peace negotiations (1525), which ended with the creation of the first Protestant state on the order lands - the Duchy of Prussia, a vassal of the Polish crown.
In 1531, 58-year-old Copernicus retired and concentrated on finishing his book. At the same time, he practiced medicine (free of charge). The faithful Rheticus constantly worked for the speedy publication of Copernicus's work, but progress was slow. Fearing that the obstacles would prove insurmountable, Copernicus circulated among his friends short summary his work entitled “Small Commentary” (Commentariolus). In 1542, the scientist’s condition deteriorated significantly, and paralysis of the right half of the body occurred.
Copernicus died on May 24, 1543 at the age of 70 from a stroke. Some biographers (for example, Tiedemann Giese) claim that the author managed to see his work published shortly before his death. But others argue that this was impossible, since recent months During his life, Copernicus was in a severe coma.
The book of Copernicus has remained as an outstanding monument to human thought.
The location of Copernicus's tomb is very long time remained unknown, however, during excavations in cathedral Frombork in 2005, a skull and leg bones were discovered. A comparative DNA analysis of these remains and two hairs of Copernicus, found in one of his books, confirmed that the remains of Copernicus were found.
On May 20, 2010, the reburial ceremony for the remains of Nicolaus Copernicus began. On May 21, the coffin was delivered to the cathedral of Frombork, where Copernicus made his most important discoveries. On the way to Frombork, the coffin passed through several cities of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship - Dobre Miasto, Lidzbark Warminski, Orneta, Pienierzno and Braniewo, with which Copernicus was associated in the course of his activities. On May 22, 2010, the remains of the great scientist were buried in Frombork Cathedral. The solemn ceremony was performed by the Primate of Poland, Archbishop of Gniezno Józef Kowalczyk. The burial of the remains was also timed to coincide with the celebration of the 750th anniversary of the city.
(1473-1543) Polish astronomer
Nicolaus Copernicus was born in the Polish city of Toruń into the family of a merchant who came from Germany. He was orphaned at an early age and raised in the house of his uncle, the famous Polish humanist Bishop Lukasz Wachenrode. In 1490, he graduated from the University of Krakow and became a canon of the cathedral in Frombork, a fishing town at the mouth of the Vistula. He remained in this position (with interruptions) until the end of his life.
In 1496, Copernicus went on a long journey to Italy. At first he studied at University of Bologna, where he became a Master of Arts and also studied church law. It was in Bologna that he developed an interest in astronomy, which determined his scientific destiny.
Then he's on a short time returns to Poland, but soon goes back to Italy, where he studies medicine at the University of Padua and receives a doctorate in theology from the University of Ferrara. Nicolaus Copernicus returned to his homeland in 1503 as a comprehensively educated man. He settled first in the city of Lidzbark, where he served as a secretary and doctor for his uncle, and after his death he moved to Frombork, where he lived until the end of his life.
Nicolaus Copernicus was an amazingly versatile scientist. Simultaneously with his studies in astronomy, he was engaged in translations of the works of Byzantine authors, as well as medicine, earning a reputation as an excellent doctor. Copernicus treated the poor for free: day and night he was ready to rush to the aid of the sick. In addition, he participated in the management of the region and was in charge of its financial and economic affairs. But most of all he was interested in astronomy, which he presented somewhat differently than was customary.
By that time, the system of the world structure proposed by the ancient Greek scientist Claudius Ptolemy had existed for almost one and a half millennia. It consisted in the fact that the Earth rests motionless in the center of the Universe, and the Sun and other planets revolve around it. Ptolemy's theory did not explain many phenomena well known to astronomers, in particular the loop-like movement of planets across the visible sky. Nevertheless, its provisions were considered unshakable, since they were in good agreement with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Long before Copernicus, the ancient Greek scientist Aristarchus argued that the Earth moves around the Sun. But he could not yet experimentally confirm his teaching.
Watching the movement celestial bodies, Nicolaus Copernicus concluded that Ptolemy's theory was incorrect. After thirty years of hard work, long observations and complex mathematical calculations, he convincingly proved that the Earth is only one of the planets and that all planets revolve around the Sun. True, Copernicus still believed that the stars are motionless and are located on the surface of a huge sphere, at a great distance from the Earth. This was due to the fact that at that time there were no such powerful telescopes with which one could observe the sky and stars.
Having discovered that the Earth and the planets are satellites of the Sun, Nicolaus Copernicus was able to explain the apparent movement of the Sun across the sky, the strange entanglement in the movement of some planets, as well as the apparent rotation of the sky. He believed that we perceive the movement of celestial bodies in the same way as the movement of various objects on Earth when we ourselves are in motion. When we are sailing in a boat on the surface of a river, it seems that the boat and we are motionless in it, and the banks are floating in reverse direction. In the same way, to an observer on Earth, it seems that the Earth is motionless, and the Sun is moving around it. In fact, it is the Earth that moves around the Sun and makes a full revolution in its orbit during the year.
Sometime between 1510 and 1514 Nicolaus Copernicus wrote short message, in which he first informed scientists about his discovery. It created the impression of a bomb exploding and became the cause of misfortune not only for its author, but also for his followers. To accept such a theory meant destroying the authority of the church, since this concept refuted the theory of the divine origin of the Universe.
Copernicus’ theory was fully expounded in his work “On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres.” The author did not live to see this book spread throughout the world. He was dying when friends brought him the first copy of his book, printed in one of the Nuremberg printing houses. His book aroused interest among progressive-minded scientists.
Church leaders did not immediately understand the blow to religion that Copernicus’ book dealt. For some time his work was freely distributed among scientists. Only when Nicolaus Copernicus had followers was his teaching declared heresy, and the book included in the “Index of Prohibited Books.” Only in 1835 did the Pope exclude the book of Copernicus from this index and thereby, as it were, acknowledge the existence of his teaching in the eyes of the church.
In 1600, the Italian scientist Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake for promoting the views of Copernicus. But this could not stop the development of science.
Soon after the death of Nicolaus Copernicus, the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei established that the Sun also rotates around its axis, which confirmed the correctness of the Polish scientist’s conclusions.
It is obvious that the patterns discovered by Copernicus contributed to further development astronomy, in which more and more new discoveries are still being made.
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Biography of Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)
Short biography:
Education: University of Padua, University of Cracow, University of Ferrara, University of Bologna
Place of Birth: Toruń, Poland
A place of death: Frauenburg, Poland
– Polish astronomer, mathematician: biography with photos, main ideas and discoveries, contributions to science, heliocentric system world, the Sun in the center.
Accepted in modern times as the father of astronomy, he was born on February 19, 1473. starts in Toruń, Poland. He was the son of a successful merchant. After the death of his father, he was raised by his uncle, a wealthy Catholic bishop. It was his uncle who arranged for Copernicus to study at the University of Krakow, which was famous at that time for its mathematical, philosophical and astronomical studies. training programs . Copernicus later studied humanitarian sciences
in Bologna, medical in Padua, and legal at the University of Ferrara. In 1500 he lectured on astronomy in Rome and in 1503 he graduated from Ferrara with the degree of doctor of canon law. Soon after this, in 1507, Copernicus returned to Poland, where he was elected canonist of the church. He conscientiously fulfilled his ecclesiastical duties, but also practiced medicine, wrote a treatise on monetary reform, and eventually turned his attention to the topic of astronomy. The interest in astronomy eventually developed into a major interest. During its biographies Nicolaus Copernicus he worked alone, without outside help or advice. All observations were made without using, because the latter were invented only a hundred years later. Nicolaus Copernicus watched from a tower located on the protective wall surrounding the monastery. In 1530, Copernicus completed work on his first great work entitled “De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium” (On the Revolution of the Celestial Spheres). It was in this book that he argued that the Earth rotates on its axis once every day and travels around the Sun throughout the year. This was an unimaginably fantastic idea at the time. Before the time of Copernicus, thinkers Western world adhered to the Ptolemaic theory, according to which the universe was a closed space, limited by a spherical shell, beyond which there was nothing. They believed that the Earth was the center of the Universe and that the stars, planets and the Sun revolved around the stationary Earth. This was the famous geocentric (Earth-centered) theory. Copernicus was in no hurry to publish his book, as he was a perfectionist and believed that it was necessary to check and double-check his observations.
Thirteen years after it was written, in 1543, De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium was finally published. Unfortunately, Copernicus died later that year and did not learn about great struggle which he created. It is said that he apparently received the first copy of his book on his deathbed when he died on May 24, 1543 in Frombork, Poland. His great book went against philosophical and religious beliefs which were planted in the Middle Ages. The Church argued that man was created by God in his own image and therefore is the next creature after him. That is, man is superior to all other creatures and was not part of natural world. The Church feared that because of the teachings of Nicolaus Copernicus, people would believe that they were just part of the world, but not above it, which went against the theories of politically powerful churchmen of the time. His work forever changed man's place in outer space. The revelation of the heliocentric (sun-centered) theory marked the beginning of a scientific revolution and a new look at the picture of the Universe.