Early Scientific Revolution - Nicolaus Copernicus

The video discusses Nicolaus Copernicus, who challenged Ptolemy's geocentric model by proposing a heliocentric system where planets, including Earth, revolve around the sun. Despite its revolutionary nature, Copernicus' work retained traditional elements like circular orbits. He delayed publishing due to potential church backlash, which eventually banned his book for 200 years. Copernicus' model required fewer epicycles than Ptolemy's but was still complex. His ideas paved the way for future scientific advancements.

What were epicycles, and why did Copernicus need to incorporate them into his model?

In what ways did Copernicus' ideas pave the way for future scientific developments?