why was the heliocentric model of the solar system not readily accepted at first?

Answer 1

Basically it was because the Catholic church preached that according to Aristotle and the Bible the earth was the center of the universe. They feared that if the heliocentric model proved to be true than it would go against church doctrine and would make mankind seem less important if they were not at the center.

Answer 2

Another problem was that early heliocentric models assumed that the planets orbit in circles - observations didn't match the theory, so the more "obvious" geocentric models were favoured. It wasn't until Kepler produced his laws of planetary motion, which had the planets orbiting in elipses, that the heliocentric model was generaly accepted. Even then it wasn't an overnight success, it was only as observations continued to agree with predictions that people accepted it.

It's a bit simplistic to say that the Roman Catholic church crushed opposition to geocentric models - the link has a good description of what happened.

Answer 3

The general population just saw the sun cross the sky every day and it seemed obvious to them that the sun was going around the earth.

Answer 4

The catholic church slapped down or crushed anyone foolish enough to doubt their word that the earth was the center of the universe.