The Copernican Revolution Class 11 – Concept, MCQs & Notes PDF

Topic covered: The Copernican Revolution class 11 notes and MCQs questions: Changing Cultural Traditions (All single detail notes are exam-oriented).

We have discussed in-depth and exam-oriented pointers that can be asked in the board exam of class 11th about “The Copernican Revolution“ from the NCERT history notes for class 11th chapter 5 “Changing Cultural Traditions”.

Download the NCERT History for Class 11th Chapter 5 Changing Cultural Traditions Notes PDF

Download the NCERT History for Class 11th Chapter 5 Changing Cultural Traditions Notes PDF if you want a clear and readable explanation of how ideas, art, and knowledge began to change in medieval Europe. These notes walk you through the revival of Italian cities, the growth of universities, and the rise of humanism, showing how people started to look at history, science, and philosophy in new ways. You will also learn about the Arab contribution to knowledge, realistic art, architecture, the first printed books, and changing views about human beings and women. The chapter ends with important religious debates and scientific ideas like the Copernican Revolution, helping you understand how people began to read and interpret the universe differently.

The Copernican Revolution

1. Scientific Challenge to Christian Beliefs:

• The Christian notion of man as a sinner was questioned by scientists.
• The challenge came from a scientific, not religious, perspective.

2. Traditional Christian View of the Universe:

• Earth was believed to be sinful and immobile.
• The heavy burden of sin was thought to keep the earth stationary.
• Earth was considered the centre of the universe.
• Celestial planets were believed to move around the Earth.

3. Copernicus and the Scientific Turning Point:

• A major turning point in European science came with Copernicus (1473–1543).
• He was a contemporary of Martin Luther.
• Copernicus asserted that planets, including Earth, rotate around the sun.

4. Copernicus and the Church:

• Copernicus was a devout Christian.
• He feared the reaction of traditionalist clergymen.
• He did not want his manuscript De revolutionibus (The Rotation) to be printed.

5. Fate of De revolutionibus:

• Copernicus gave the manuscript to his follower, Joachim Rheticus.
• This happened on his deathbed.

6. Delayed Acceptance of New Ideas:

• Copernican theory was not accepted immediately.
• People took a long time to accept the sun-centered system.

7. Bridging Heaven and Earth:

• The gap between heaven and earth was bridged much later.
• This happened more than half a century later.
• Contributions came from Johannes Kepler and Galileo Galilei.

8. Kepler’s Contribution:

• Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) popularised the sun-centered system.
• His work Cosmographical Mystery explained planetary motion.
• He showed that planets move in ellipses, not circles.

9. Galileo’s Contribution:

• Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) supported the idea of a dynamic world.
• He confirmed this through his work, The Motion.

10. Climax of the Scientific Revolution:

• The scientific revolution reached its climax with Isaac Newton.
• Newton proposed the theory of gravitation.

Next & Previous Topics of NCERT/CBSE History Class 11 Chapter 5: Changing Cultural Traditions

MCQs on NCERT History Class 11 Chapter 5 – The Copernican Revolution Class 11

Here are the top exam-oriented MCQ-type questions on “The Copernican Revolution Class 11” that you should prepare for your CBSE or state board exams:

Question 1. The Christian notion of man as a sinner was questioned mainly by

A. Philosophers
B. Clergymen
C. Scientists
D. Artists

Answer: C. Scientists

Question 2. According to traditional Christian belief, the earth was considered

A. A divine planet
B. A sinful and immobile place
C. A moving heavenly body
D. Part of a sun-centred system

Answer: B. A sinful and immobile place

Question 3. Christians believed that the earth stood at the centre of

A. The solar system
B. The galaxy
C. The universe
D. The celestial sphere only

Answer: C. The universe

Question 4. The turning point in European science came with the work of

A. Galileo Galilei
B. Johannes Kepler
C. Isaac Newton
D. Nicolaus Copernicus

Answer: D. Nicolaus Copernicus

Question 5. Copernicus lived during the period

A. 1400–1450
B. 1450–1500
C. 1473–1543
D. 1500–1550

Answer: C. 1473–1543

Question 6. Copernicus was a contemporary of

A. Isaac Newton
B. Martin Luther
C. Johannes Kepler
D. Galileo Galilei

Answer: B. Martin Luther

Question 7. Copernicus asserted that

A. The sun revolves around the earth
B. The earth is stationary
C. All planets revolve around the sun
D. Planets move randomly in space

Answer: C. All planets revolve around the sun

Question 8. According to Copernicus, which of the following rotates around the sun?

A. Only planets except earth
B. Only the earth
C. The moon
D. Planets including the earth

Answer: D. Planets including the earth

Question 9. Copernicus was afraid of the reaction of

A. Kings and nobles
B. Scientists
C. Traditionalist clergymen
D. Common people

Answer: C. Traditionalist clergymen

Question 10. Due to fear of opposition, Copernicus initially did not want his manuscript to be

A. Written
B. Translated
C. Printed
D. Read

Answer: C. Printed

Question 11. The manuscript written by Copernicus was titled

A. The Motion
B. Cosmographical Mystery
C. De revolutionibus
D. Principia

Answer: C. De revolutionibus

Question 12. The English meaning of De revolutionibus is

A. The Universe
B. The Motion
C. The Rotation
D. The Cosmos

Answer: C. The Rotation

Question 13. On his deathbed, Copernicus gave his manuscript to

A. Galileo Galilei
B. Johannes Kepler
C. Martin Luther
D. Joachim Rheticus

Answer: D. Joachim Rheticus

Question 14. Acceptance of Copernicus’s ideas by people was

A. Immediate
B. Forced by the Church
C. Gradual and slow
D. Complete within a year

Answer: C. Gradual and slow

Question 15. The gap between ‘heaven’ and earth was bridged through the writings of

A. Artists and philosophers
B. Clergymen
C. Astronomers
D. Politicians

Answer: C. Astronomers

Question 16. Which of the following astronomers helped bridge the difference between heaven and earth?

A. Copernicus and Luther
B. Kepler and Galileo
C. Newton and Descartes
D. Aristotle and Plato

Answer: B. Kepler and Galileo

Question 17. Johannes Kepler lived during the period

A. 1473–1543
B. 1500–1560
C. 1564–1642
D. 1571–1630

Answer: D. 1571–1630

Question 18. Galileo Galilei lived during the period

A. 1473–1543
B. 1564–1642
C. 1571–1630
D. 1640–1700

Answer: B. 1564–1642

Question 19. The theory of a sun-centred system was popularised by

A. Galileo’s The Motion
B. Newton’s theory of gravitation
C. Kepler’s Cosmographical Mystery
D. Copernicus’s fear of the Church

Answer: C. Kepler’s Cosmographical Mystery

Question 20. According to Kepler, planets move around the sun in

A. Perfect circles
B. Straight lines
C. Elliptical orbits
D. Zigzag paths

Answer: C. Elliptical orbits

Question 21. Which work demonstrated that planets do not move in circular paths?

A. De revolutionibus
B. The Motion
C. Cosmographical Mystery
D. Principia

Answer: C. Cosmographical Mystery

Question 22. Galileo Galilei confirmed the idea of a dynamic world in his work

A. De revolutionibus
B. The Motion
C. Cosmographical Mystery
D. Theory of Gravitation

Answer: B. The Motion

Question 23. The scientific revolution reached its climax with

A. Copernicus’s heliocentric theory
B. Kepler’s laws of motion
C. Galileo’s observations
D. Isaac Newton’s theory of gravitation

Answer: D. Isaac Newton’s theory of gravitation

Question 24. Which scientist is associated with the theory of gravitation?

A. Copernicus
B. Kepler
C. Galileo
D. Isaac Newton

Answer: D. Isaac Newton

Question 25. Which sequence correctly shows the development of scientific ideas?

A. Newton → Galileo → Copernicus → Kepler
B. Copernicus → Kepler → Galileo → Newton
C. Galileo → Copernicus → Newton → Kepler
D. Kepler → Newton → Copernicus → Galileo

Answer: B. Copernicus → Kepler → Galileo → Newton