History glossary
Heliocentrism
the model that places the Sun, rather than Earth, near the center of the planetary system.
- Category
- Scientific idea
What it means
Heliocentrism challenged the older Earth-centered view of the cosmos. Copernicus proposed a mathematical sun-centered model, and later Galileo, Kepler, and Newton helped transform it into a powerful framework for astronomy and physics.
Related terms
Stories using this term
The Scientific Revolution
The Scientific Revolution transformed how humans understand the world, replacing tradition with observation, experimentation and mathematical laws that still shape modern science.
The Renaissance
From Petrarch to printing, from Florence to northern Europe, the Renaissance transformed learning, art, politics, religion, and science while linking medieval inheritance to modern change.
