Pronunciation: [d͡ʒˌiːə͡ʊsˈɛntɹɪzəm] (IPA) 
Geocentrism is the belief that the Earth is the center of the universe. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is spelled /dʒiːəʊˈsɛntrɪzəm/. The first sound /dʒ/ is the "j" sound as in "jet" while /iː/ is the long "e" sound as in "see". The stress is on the second syllable, indicated by the symbol /ˈ/. The last sound /m/ is the "m" sound as in "mom". Overall, the word is pronounced as jee-oh-sen-triz-um.
Geocentrism is a concept in astronomy and cosmology that refers to the belief that the Earth is the central and immovable point in the universe, around which all other celestial bodies revolve. This theory dominated human understanding of the cosmos for centuries, from ancient times until the emergence of heliocentrism during the Scientific Revolution in the 16th century.
According to geocentrism, the Earth is considered to be the fixed center of the universe, while the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars orbit around it in circular or epicyclic paths. This idea was deeply rooted in early observations of the sky, as it appeared to the naked eye that all celestial bodies moved across the heavens, rising in the east and setting in the west.
Geocentrism was influential in philosophical, religious, and scientific thought throughout history. It held particular significance in various ancient cosmologies, such as the Babylonian, Egyptian, and Ptolemaic systems. These systems were based on empirical evidence and complex mathematical models, classifying celestial motions through intricate calculations and predictions.
The development and acceptance of heliocentrism, challenged by Nicolaus Copernicus and further supported by Galileo Galilei and Johannes Kepler, gradually undermined the idea of geocentrism. Heliocentrism proposed that the Sun was at the center of the Solar System, with the Earth and other planets revolving around it. Geocentrism eventually faded away as experimental evidence, advancements in telescopes, and scientific observations accumulated in support of heliocentric models, leading to a revolutionary shift in our understanding of the cosmos.
The word geocentrism is derived from the Greek words geo which means earth and kentron meaning center.
