Final answer:
The discoveries of Copernicus and other astronomers revolutionized the way people viewed the universe. They introduced the heliocentric model, which challenged the geocentric belief and shifted the focus away from Earth as the center of everything. These discoveries also laid the foundation for the scientific method and emphasized empirical evidence as a basis for understanding the natural world.
Step-by-step explanation:
The discoveries of Copernicus and other astronomers had a profound impact on the way people viewed the universe. Prior to these discoveries, the prevailing belief was that Earth was the center of the universe and all celestial bodies revolved around it (known as the geocentric model). However, Copernicus proposed a heliocentric model, in which the Sun was at the center and Earth and other planets orbited it. This challenged the existing religious and philosophical beliefs and caused a paradigm shift in understanding the cosmos.
The new heliocentric model not only changed scientific knowledge but also influenced people's perception of their place in the universe. It shifted the focus away from Earth as the center of everything and emphasized the vastness of the universe, with Earth being just one among many planets. This shift in perspective undermined the notion of human superiority and humbled humanity in the grand scheme of things.
Furthermore, these discoveries laid the foundation for the scientific method and the belief in empirical evidence. Copernicus and Galileo's observations and measurements provided evidence to support their heliocentric model, challenging the prevailing authority of pure human thought and divine revelation. This sparked a scientific revolution and led to a more rational and evidence-based approach to understanding the natural world.