Final answer:
Nicolaus Copernicus shifted Renaissance perspectives on the universe by introducing a heliocentric model, where planets orbit the Sun, in contrast to the longstanding geocentric model. His book, De Revolutionibus, and the adoption of his ideas by later scientists like Galileo, marked the beginning of the Scientific Revolution and radically altered our understanding of the cosmos.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Did Nicolaus Copernicus Change Renaissance Thinking About the Universe?
Nicolaus Copernicus revolutionized Renaissance thinking about the universe through his development of a heliocentric model of the solar system, which posited that the Earth and the other planets revolve around the Sun. Prior to Copernicus's work, the prevailing belief, based on Ptolemy's geocentric theory, was that Earth was the center of the universe.
By advocating the concept that Earth was just one of several planets orbiting the Sun, Copernicus displaced Earth from its revered central position. His rigorous mathematical analysis and the compelling arguments presented in his book De Revolutionibus laid the groundwork for subsequent astronomical discoveries by luminaries such as Galileo and Kepler, and thus initiated the Scientific Revolution.
Copernicus, a polymath with backgrounds in various fields including theology, medicine, law, mathematics, and astronomy, dedicated a significant portion of his life to studying and refuting the established geocentric views.
Despite the potential for controversy and opposition from religious authorities, his ideas spread, especially after being further proven by the observations made by Galileo with his telescope. The Copernican model not only fundamentally changed the way humanity viewed its place in the cosmos but also helped pave the way for modern experimental physics and the objective study of the natural world.