Today, Nicolas Copernicus is one of the most famous people in science history, but he was not famous during his lifetime. His seminal work, On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, put the Sun at the center of the universe when most in Europe believed the Earth was flat. It remained unpublished during his lifetime. It was only on his deathbed in 1543 that he arranged for its publication.

In chapter 14 of 30 Philosophers, I tell the story of the “dark” Middle Ages and continue the embrace of evolving labels. While I believe the adjective “dark” aptly describes Europe during this period. Historically, “Dark Ages” referred to an era of academic regression spanning from the end of the classic period to the renaissance. In the book, I put it this way:

“Europe during this era was “intellectually dark.” This occurs anytime a collective decides there can only be one story about the unknown and unknowable. Their story is correct, all others are wrong and must be purged, and anyone promoting other stories must be dealt with. The Middle Ages stand in stark contrast when compared to other times, before and after.”

Later, in chapter 21 I tell the story of the scientific revolution using the stories of Copernicus and Galileo. Galileo is perhaps most remembered for his house arrest by the Church. The chapter begins with a retelling of that classic tale, the story that birthed our modern cosmological model. The story of how the printing press allowed copies of Copernicus’ book to spread across the land despite multiple bans and burnings by the Church. The work persisted, eventually setting the stage for the Scientific Revolution. For the full story of human thought over the last 5,000 years, get your copy of 30 Philosophers today.