1) Early Greek philosophers began developing natural/scientific explanations for phenomena rather than relying on myths. They used simple models, observations, experiments, logic and math to understand the size of astronomical objects and their distances. 2) A Greek astronomer established an Earth-centered model of the universe that was supported by theologians and remained dominant for over a thousand years. 3) In the 16th century, Copernicus constructed a more accurate Sun-centered model, but it was ignored due to lack of fame, defiance of common sense, and resistance from religious authorities.

1. Big
Bang
by
Simon
Singh
All
picture
from
Wikipedia
and
Wikicommon

2. Chapter
1
IN
THE
BEGINNING

3. Myths,
Gods
and
Monsters

4. 6th
Century
BC,
Greece
In
the
Greek
Supra-­‐
beginning,
philospher
Natural
universe
natural
universe
is
began
to
phenom
phenom
explained
describe
ena
ena
as
universe
as
Experi-­‐
Natural
ment
Model/
theory
Model/
according
Observa
Viable
to
Greek
Simple
theory
Logic
Gons
Proto-­‐ using
scienGst
Accurate
Math

5. Size
of
Earth,
Sun,
Moon,
and
their
distances

6. A
Greek
astronomers
established
a
false
earth-­‐centered
model
of
universe

7. Theologian
support
earth-­‐centered
model
as
it
was
consistent
with
the
Bible

8. In
16th
century
Copernicus
constructed
a
sun-­‐centered
model
• It
was
simple
and
reasonably
accurate

9. Unfortunately,
Copernicus’s
model
was
ignored
because
• He
is
virtually
unknown
• His
model
defied
common-­‐sense
• His
model
was
less
accurate
than
Ptolemy’s
• Religious
(and
scienGfic)
orthodoxy
quashed
original
thought

10. Copernicus’
model
was
improved
by
Kepler
using
Tyhco’s
observaGons
• Planets
follow
(slightly)
ellipGcal,
not
circular
orbits
• The
sun-­‐centered
model
was
now
simpler
and
more
accurate
than
earth-­‐centered
model

11. Galileo
championed
the
sun-­‐centered
model
• Using
telescope,
show
that
Jupiter
has
moons,
the
sun
has
spots,
and
Venus
has
phases

12. Galileo
and
Church
• Galileo
wrote
a
book
explaining
why
the
sun-­‐
centered
model
was
correct,
unfortunately
the
church
bullied
Galileo
and
forced
him
to
recant
in
1633
• In
later
centuries,
the
church
become
more
tolerant.
• Astronomers
adopted
the
sun
centered
model
and
science
flourished.

13. The
Quest
• By
1900
cosmologists
concluded
that
the
universe
was
not
created
but
existed
for
eternity
• But
there
was
no
evidence
to
back
this
theory
• The
eternal
universe
hypothesis
was
not
much
more
than
a
myth
• 20th
century
cosmologist
would
return
to
the
big
quesGon
and
address
it
scienGfically:
– Is
the
universe
eternal
an
unlimited?
Or…
– Was
universe
created
and
limited?