Claiming Copernicus.
The reputations of scientific heroes shift constantly, modified by politicians as well as by historians. Now that the Scientific Revolution has been reappraised, Nicolas Copernicus is portrayed as a friend of the Catholic Church rather than a scientific martyr. As a German-speaking Pole he has been claimed as a figure of national historical importance by both Germany and Poland, and since the early 20th century has been an important symbol of Polish independence.
Fara
Patricia
P
Clare College, Cambridge CB2 1TL, UK. pf10006@cam.ac.uk
D001256:Astronomy / Q000266:history*; D005197:Famous Persons; D005858:Germany; D006663:Historiography; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland; D012586:Science / Q000266:history