Elsie Rajewski

DBQ- Scientific Revolution

During the Scientific Revolution, Copernicus suggested the theory of a heliocentric model; that the Earth revolved around the Sun. As Copernicus theory was promulgated, there was much arousal to the citizens, especially the Catholics and Protestants. The truly devout Catholics at heart rejected the idea of a heliocentric model and had a hostile attitude toward the idea; however, the Protestants believed that the idea should not be condemned and had an optimistic attitude toward the theory. The devout Catholics firmly believed in the geocentric model where the Earth was the center of the Universe. Documents 3, 7, and 8 all confirm the hostile attitude of the Catholics toward the heliocentric model. Martin Luther, although a Protestant reformer, was once a true Catholic man, his belief that the Earth was the center of the Universe is found in Document three. Luther calls the man a fool who wishes to devise some new system for The sacred Scripture tells us that Joshua commended the sun to stand still, and not the earth (Document 3). The conservative thinking of devout Catholics, like Luther, is what confirms the hostile attitude and the rejection of the heliocentric model. Pope Paul, in Document 7, bans Copernicus book and Stunicas book because of the ideas of the heliocentric model. The Pope calls the theories false and says that the books must be corrected (Document 7). Document 7 is reliable in executing the hostile attitude toward the theory because it is a decree. The fact that the document is a decree means that it was written down by an official and the Document was used to affirm a law. In Document 8, the Pope forbids all writings which affirm the motion of the Earth. This document is also reliable because it is a decree. However, most importantly, these

documents were quoting the Pope. The Pope would obviously be in favor of the geocentric model because he is Catholic and he would believe that the Earth is the center of the Universe. On the other hand, there were forward thinking people, like the Protestants who believed that the heliocentric model should not be condemned. Documents 4, and 5 employ the accepting reaction toward the heliocentric model and the optimistic attitude. John Calvin, a Protestant, states that the science of the heliocentric model should not be rejected. Calvin believes that people reject the unknown, and that the information of astrology is useful (Document 4). The forward thinking of Protestants like Calvin is what made supporters believe in the heliocentric model. Document 4 is reliable because it is from Calvins commentary. Calvin would be bias against whatever the Catholics believed (aka the geocentric model) and so he would be in favor of a new and reformed theory on the way the Earth moves. Document 5 also exhibits the supporting attitude toward the heliocentric model. Giordano Bruno believes that the observer believes that they are at the center of things. Bruno supports the idea of change in the Universe (Document 5). The fact the Bruno was a philosopher and writer on mathematics and science, means that he would support any new theory that a scientist came up with and find a philosophy to support his beliefs. However, overall, the forward thinkers supported the heliocentric model. The heliocentric model, develop by Copernicus was widely unsupported by devout Catholics, and he was well aware of it. In Document 2, he states as soon as some people learn that in this book I ascribe certain motions to the Earth, they will cry out and my theory should be rejected. This Document is reliable because it was published after his death. The fact that the document was published after his death, and written to the Pope, shows that he knew his work would cause social unrest because it went against Catholic belief. The theory would be widely unsupported because of such beliefs, like Document 6. In Document 6, Cardinal

Bellarmine writes about the political reasoning of belief in the geocentric model. The Council [of Trent] prohibits expounding the Scriptures contrary to the common agreement of the holy Fathers (Document 6). People believed in the geocentric model because of the Catholic treaty that prevented them from believing otherwise. The Catholic Church forced the people to believe in the theory proposed in Document 1. Document 1 shows the geocentric model as the Catholics believed; they believed that the Earth was at the center of the Universe and that the sun and revolved around the Earth and the Heavens were far from the Earth. Overall, the Catholics rejected the idea of the astronomers, as pictured in Document 9. The Catholics had a hostile attitude toward the Scientific Revolution because they did not like change. The Catholics were firm believers in the ideas of the holy Fathers and there was no changing their minds. However, the Protestants and the forward thinkers supported the theories of the Scientific Revolution.