The gradual acceptance of the Copernican theory of the universe

"The Gradual Acceptance of the Copernican Theory of the Universe" by Dorothy Stimson is a historical exploration of how people's understanding of the universe shifted from an Earth-centered view to a Sun-centered one. The book looks at the challenges and conflicts that arose as new scientific evidence clashed with older beliefs about the cosmos. It begins by looking at early ideas about the universe from ancient times up to the 1400s, laying the groundwork to understand how Copernicus's revolutionary ideas emerged and how they were initially met with resistance before slowly gaining acceptance. The story focuses on this change in thinking that happened over time, rather than just the science of astronomy itself, highlighting the struggle between new discoveries and long-held traditions.