Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543): His life and work; On the revolution of heavenly spheres -- Galileo Galilei (1564-1642): His life and work; Dialogues concerning two sciences -- Johannes Kepler (1571-1630): His life and work; Harmony of the world, Book 5 -- Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727): His life and work; Principia --- Albert Einstein (1879-1955): His life and work; Selections from The principle of relativity