Which scholar is often known for his theory that the planets revolve around the sun?

Prepare for the GACE History Test with multiple choice questions, flashcards, and study tips. Each question offers hints and explanations. Achieve success in your exam!

The scholar most famously associated with the theory that the planets revolve around the sun is Copernicus. His heliocentric model fundamentally changed the understanding of the universe during the Renaissance. Prior to Copernicus, the prevailing belief was the geocentric model, which positioned the Earth at the center of the universe, with the stars and planets revolving around it.

In his work "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium," published in 1543, Copernicus proposed that the sun is at the center of the universe, and the Earth, along with other planets, orbits around it. This idea laid the groundwork for future astronomers, including Kepler, who would further refine the understanding of planetary motion, and Newton, whose laws of gravitation helped explain why these movements occur. Copernicus’s theory marked the beginning of a major shift in astronomical thought, known as the Copernican Revolution, leading to the eventual acceptance of the heliocentric model in the scientific community.

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