Information Text: Kraków - Renaissance - Outstanding scholars

The beginning of the 16th century marked the golden era of Jagielloński University thanks to the changes which had already taken place in the former century. Brilliant scholars and lecturers as well as remarkable students who, after having left the University, became world famous political and cultural figures, are the most visible evidence of the University’s excellence. Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski and Jan Kochanowski, two outstanding Renaissance authors, are worthy of mention here. Another person inseparably associated with the University is Mikołaj Kopernik (1472-1543).

Mikołaj Kopernik, born in Toruń in 1472, is considered the main intellectual leader of the 16^th century and the father of modern astronomy. The University in Kraków, his alma mater, was famous at that time for its excellent Faculty of Astronomy. There, Kopernik discovered the structure of the solar system and formulated the scientifically-based heliocentric cosmology.

Kopernik’s heliocentric theory assumed that the Earth and other planets turn on their axes once a day and revolve around the fixed sun once a year. The theory was published in a work entitled “De revolutionibus orbium coelestium” (“On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres”) in 1543.

Furthermore, the two-minute precision of Kopernik’s calendar in relation to the length of the year draws great admiration when we take into consideration the level of scientific research and knowledge at that time. The Catholic Church authorities had allowed and encouraged the publication of Kopernik’s work already in 1536, after only a three year study of his text. Although the church had adopted Kopernik’s calendar, only 80 years later it placed his book on the list of forbidden works. It stayed there till 1828. Kopernik, as a real Renaissance man, worked and excelled in a wide variety of subjects and fields. He was not only an astronomer, but also a jurist, physician, economist, military leader, mathematician and, in the years 1521 – 1523, he held a position of the Commissioner for the Warmia Chapter.

Chapter: all the priests belonging to a cathedral, or a meeting of these priests

Alma Mater: Latin for "nourishing mother". In modern times, it is used to refer to the university or college a person attends or attended.