Final answer:
Nicolaus Copernicus started the revolutionary change in astronomical thought with his heliocentric theory, replacing the Earth with the Sun as the center of the galaxy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nicolaus Copernicus began the process of changing the whole view of the world by arguing that the Sun, not the Earth, was the center of the galaxy. This heliocentric view was controversial as it challenged the prevailing teachings of the Church. However, during the Renaissance, this view gradually gained acceptance.
The heliocentric cosmology was introduced by Copernicus in his book De Revolutionibus. While Galileo Galilei is famed for his telescopic discoveries that supported the Copernican theory, it was Copernicus who initially laid down the foundation for this revolutionary astronomical concept.