Final answer:
Aristarchus of Samos was the first to suggest the heliocentric model where the Earth revolves around the Sun. His idea, however, was initially rejected and only gained acceptance after Nicolaus Copernicus's work in the 16th century established it with scientific support.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first individual to propose that the Earth revolved around the Sun was Aristarchus of Samos, an ancient Greek astronomer who lived around 310 to 230 BC. Although Aristarchus suggested this revolutionary heliocentric model, his ideas were not widely accepted at the time. Influential thinkers like Aristotle rejected this notion, and it was not until the time of Nicolaus Copernicus in the 16th century that the concept gained traction. Copernicus, supported by later astronomers such as Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei, and finally Isaac Newton, established the heliocentric theory as a scientifically supported model of our solar system.
Aristarchus of Samos, an ancient Greek astronomer from approximately 310 to 230 BC, was the first to propose the heliocentric model, suggesting that the Earth orbited the Sun. Despite the groundbreaking nature of his ideas, they faced resistance and were not widely accepted in his time. Aristotle and others held onto the geocentric model.
It wasn't until the 16th century that the heliocentric concept gained momentum, notably with the work of Nicolaus Copernicus. Copernicus, building on Aristarchus's ideas, proposed a heliocentric solar system. This model found support from later astronomers, including Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei, and Isaac Newton, who collectively established the heliocentric theory as a scientifically validated model, revolutionizing our understanding of the cosmos. This shift marked a transformative moment in the history of astronomy and science.