Prior to Copernicus, astronomers had favoured the view, following both Aristotle and Ptolemy, that the Earth was at the centre of the universe, with both the stars, sun and the moon revolving about it. Known as the Ptolemaic system, this view was wholly in keeping with many theological teachings, in which the universe is seen to be created by God for the express purpose of man. The effect of Copernicus’ work was to turn all this on its head.
