Chapter 286
The launching ceremony, which should have been a trouble-free celebration, ended by saddling Marcus with yet another headache.
The ceremony itself, of course, was a resounding success.
The newly unveiled large Sailing Ship operated flawlessly, and a few lottery winners from the crowd even got to enjoy a brief voyage.
Although mass production was still a distant dream, by the time artillery became standardized, nearly all of Rome's main fleet would be replaced by Sailing Ships.
'The problem is that I need to completely overhaul the entire field of astronomy before that happens.'
At first, he had thought it would be enough to simply prepare the Compass and the Telescope.
The Compass was something they could manufacture right this moment, and producing a Telescope posed no problems either.
'I considered all of that, so how on earth did I completely overlook astronomy and navigation like an idiot?'
Perhaps it was because he had been entirely focused on developing physical goods and technology.
Or perhaps, because it wasn't a field with immediate, visible benefits, he had naturally pushed it to the bottom of his priority list.
Whatever the reason, he realized it now, so it wasn't too late.
Marcus seriously pondered how to preach the heliocentric theory to an era already entrenched in the geocentric model.
At first, he had expected that this issue could be easily resolved as well.
His influence was growing by the day, so he figured that if he declared the Earth revolved, people would simply accept that it revolved.
However, upon looking into the matter a little deeper, he realized it wouldn't be that simple.
In this era, geocentrism was a sophisticated academic discipline and an objective science that had already undergone several rounds of verification.
"If I just crush them with my authority, they will only pretend to agree on the surface while continuing to preach the geocentric model behind my back."
This was entirely different from reforming customary farming methods or predicting the future.
Agricultural and sanitation reforms could be forced through because their results could be confirmed with the naked eye after just a few years.
He could push them forward by promising to take responsibility if they failed; the results would then overturn everything.
Predicting the great earthquake in Antioch was the same.
If the earthquake did not occur even when the predicted time arrived, his successors would face quite a bit of trouble, but what if the earthquake did strike?
From that day forward, the Julius-Licinius Family would quite literally become true gods.
However, fields entangled with science required a much more careful approach.
Strictly speaking, the geocentric theory was not an absurd field like alchemy.
From a modern perspective, of course, the geocentric model might seem like the absurd product of sheer ignorance.
Since it was already common sense to modern people, it was not unreasonable for them to scoff and say, 'How could the sun revolve around the Earth? Tsk, tsk, those stupid ancients.'
Some even believed that the science of heliocentrism had shattered the non-science of geocentrism, which had been entrenched by religious coercion.
This, too, was a misconception.
Strictly speaking, that was because geocentrism was exceptionally good science.
It possessed a definite observational model and an initial framework, and that framework was modified through predictions and observations.
And after continuously modifying the model through counter-evidence, it was eventually replaced by heliocentrism due to the sustained advancement of science.
"So the problem is that, at the current level of science, geocentrism is a far more persuasive concept."
Right away, Marcus attempted to test the waters by explaining the heliocentric theory to Spartacus and Surenas.
The results were even more disastrous than he had anticipated.
"Uh... I really don't understand. Just by looking at the sky right now, the sun is moving. So according to what you are saying, Lord Marcus, the sun is standing still and this ground is moving..."
"Yes. Strictly speaking, the sun also revolves around the center of the galaxy, but you don't need to know that, so let's skip it. The key is that in the solar system, the sun is fixed in place, and the surrounding planets are revolving around it. That includes this planet we live on, Earth."
Spartacus wore a blank expression, looking as though he had entirely given up on trying to understand.
Surenas, however, racked his brain in his own way, struggling to accept Marcus's words.
"Lord Marcus, even so, there are still many points I cannot understand. Didn't the astronomers at the launching ceremony also say that heliocentrism is a flawed concept unworthy of consideration?"
"Between their words and mine, which do you consider the truth?"
"Yours, of course, Lord Marcus."
"Right... So for now, try to understand it under the assumption that I am correct. I am not telling you to just believe it out of blind faith, I am just trying to make you understand it first."
If he could not even make these two understand—two men who were fully prepared to listen to and accept whatever he said—how was he supposed to convince the astronomers?
Historically speaking, the methods of Copernicus and Galileo, who had advocated for heliocentrism, offered little reference here.
This was because neither of them had been able to present a definitive method to prove heliocentrism.
Galileo had merely stated the fact that geocentrism could not be the absolute truth.
Of course, based on an era where classical physics had not yet been fully established, that was the only way he could phrase it.
In other words, in the ancient era, geocentrism was an academic discipline that could appear far more logical than heliocentrism.
Therefore, he needed to draw upon precise arguments to supplement it.
Through several hours of intense explanation, Marcus coaxed continuous questions out of Spartacus and Surenas.
After receiving several questions asking why certain phenomena did not occur if the Earth was truly spinning, his mind became even more complicated.
To explain all of this, he would have to explain all the laws of physics, which would sound like an alien language to the people of this era.
'Now I finally understand why Aristarchus was only ridiculed by the astronomers.'
Science, by nature, was never isolated in fragments.
Just as producing Plate Armor required elevating foundational iron-smelting techniques first, heliocentrism also required establishing countless related theories.
But realistically, Marcus couldn't explain every single one of those countless theories to them one by one.
'It can't be helped. I'll just have to start by slipping heliocentrism into the formal education curriculum.'
The establishment of higher-learning and university-level educational institutions that Marcus had been conceptualizing was now in its final stages.
The military academy was already operating successfully, and an institution to nurture technicians and scholars across various disciplines was scheduled to be unveiled soon.
Naturally, navigators and astronomers would be included among them.
'I should start by scouting out prospective professors. After that, I can just delegate all future debates to them.'
Executing plans immediately once they were formed was Marcus's style.
He immediately dispatched invitations to the renowned astronomers in Egypt and Greece, summoning them to his location.
It was the opening of the Ctesiphon Astronomical Seminar, which would later be recorded as the most important turning point in the history of astronomy.
*
The astronomers who received Marcus's invitation gladly confirmed their intention to attend the seminar.
However, the distance from Alexandria and Greece to Ctesiphon was not a short one.
Out of consideration for the scholars' convenience, Marcus set a generous timeframe and provided ample travel expenses.
The confirmed opening date was thus set for half a year later.
The topic was decided: 'Does the Sun Revolve Around the Earth?'
The vast majority of the astronomers considered this an opportunity to explain their own theories, which had been compiled and refined from Plato through Aristotle.
And surprisingly, there was also a small minority who believed Aristarchus's claims to be true.
Although they were an extreme minority, they went so far as to publicly declare that they would reveal exactly why the geocentric model made no sense.
While the scholars made their way to Ctesiphon, Marcus first scouted the faculty who would serve as his mouthpieces.
Countless scholars and technicians were coincidentally staying in Ctesiphon for the construction of the Sailing Ship, so finding people was not difficult.
Of course, upon first hearing Marcus's explanations, they were naturally horrified and voiced their opposition.
"Great Shahanshah. It is a paramount honor to become a professor at the educational institution you are establishing. And we believe educating outstanding talents in such a manner is a truly astounding idea."
"Indeed. As long as the institution's professors produce results through their research and theses, they will be able to continuously devote themselves to their studies without any financial worries. Since the students will also be selected for their excellence, I will spare no financial support so they can focus solely on honing their talents."
"With the Shahanshah showing such profound understanding of the scholars' hearts, Rome's academia will surely continue to prosper in the future. However... when it comes to teaching, the selection of subjects is also important, and including heliocentrism is..."
The scholars Marcus had gathered were, naturally, those who had achieved the highest prestige in their respective fields.
The chemistry and metallurgy that he had personally guided were already at a level that leaped several centuries ahead.
Because the scholars knew this fact, they couldn't openly speak out against Marcus.
While it was typical for fastidious scholars to say whatever they wanted even in front of authority figures, Marcus was no ordinary man of power.
"Come to think of it, weren't you a disciple of the renowned Posidonius?"
"Yes. I was deeply moved by his lectures on astronomy, and I, too, am dedicating my life to astronomical research."
"Posidonius was indeed a great scholar."
Posidonius, who had passed away about ten years ago, was one of the greatest intellectuals of this era.
He knew every field from astronomy to geography, politics, philosophy, and history, and he had even served as an ambassador in Rome.
He was a scholar of such renown that even Cicero and Pompey had attended his lectures.
And now, Marcus was making claims that directly contradicted the words of that very Posidonius.
"Does the Shahanshah truly plan to discard geocentrism and recognize heliocentrism as the mainstream at the debate six months from now? There will be a massive backlash."
"Like your reactions right now?"
"Forgive my presumption, but scholars are sometimes prone to hot-headedness. There may very well be some who spit out rude words toward you, Lord Marcus..."
"If I were trying to brainwash people with a false theory, I would deserve the insults. But you will certainly become evangelists of knowledge, spreading my theory across the world. Hyginus, please take the record."
"Y-Yes! I will transcribe everything into the record without missing a single letter."
Upon receiving Marcus's command, a young man hurriedly opened his notebook.
The young man named Hyginus was a freedman of Octavius, and a famous author whose name was left behind even in original history.
Among the books he left behind, his 'Poetic Astronomy' and his collection of myths had been passed down to the modern era and were treated as valuable historical texts.
Because this talented young man also possessed a foundation in astronomy, Marcus had taken note of this and ordered him to publish a book.
To be published under the title 'A Dialogue Between Marcus and the School of Posidonius', this book was scheduled to be read by countless people in the future.
"Now then, I will explain why geocentrism makes no sense, and why the Earth cannot be the center of the universe, so that even you can understand. If you have any counterarguments, feel free to share them."
Intending to impart their teachings onto the Shahanshah who did not properly understand their specialty, the astronomers nodded.
But as the discussion progressed, the astronomers' faces became increasingly stained with astonishment.
It was because Marcus's insight was so excellent and flawless that it far exceeded their expectations.
In particular, this was an era before Ptolemy was even born, meaning it was before the weaknesses of geocentrism had been patched.
Thanks to this, Marcus was able to point out the contradictions of geocentrism far more easily than Copernicus or Galileo.
"According to Aristotle's concentric model, it is completely impossible to explain the movement of Venus, isn't it?"
"C-Certainly, that is true. But if we assume that the Earth is moving, aren't far greater contradictions found everywhere else?"
"Is that so? I don't quite see that myself, so could you give me a few examples?"
Highly agitated by having their weaknesses attacked, the scholars rattled off the problems of heliocentrism they had memorized in their heads.
Marcus, who had been listening to their words with utter leisure, asked in a relaxed voice once the scholars finished speaking,
"Is that all?"