Final answer:
Copernicus proposed the heliocentric model, placing the Sun at the universe's center, based on evidence that contradicted the geocentric model. This led to the Scientific Revolution and transformed humanity's view of its place in the cosmos. The correct option is C.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nicolaus Copernicus proposed a new theory of the solar system based on the evidence that supported his idea. His observations of the heavens and studies of Ptolemy's theories led him to believe that Ptolemy's geocentric model, which posited Earth as the center of the universe, was incorrect. Thus, he developed the heliocentric theory, placing the Sun at the center of the universe. This was a groundbreaking shift in the astronomical paradigm of his time.
Copernicus published his detailed ideas in De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium (On the Revolution of Celestial Orbs) in 1543, which provided an improved theory for calculating planetary positions. His heliocentric model also implied that the Earth was just another planet in motion, which eventually led to the Scientific Revolution and altered humanity's conception of its place in the cosmos.
It's important to note that although Copernicus' ideas were not widely accepted immediately and he faced fear and anger for challenging deeply held beliefs, the persistence of his theory and subsequent evidence provided by astronomers like Galileo Galilei and Johannes Kepler validated his model. This transition from a geocentric to a heliocentric view marks one of the most significant shifts in scientific thought and understanding of the universe.