1633 : Galileo in Rome for Inquisition
On this day in 1633, Italian philosopher, astronomer and mathematician
Galileo Galilei arrives in Rome to face charges of heresy for
advocating Copernican theory, which holds that the Earth revolves
around the Sun. Galileo officially faced the Roman Inquisition in
April of that same year and agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a
lighter sentence. Put under house arrest indefinitely by Pope Urban
VIII, Galileo spent the rest of his days at his villa in Arcetri, near
Florence, before dying on January 8, 1642.
Galileo, the son of a musician, was born February 15, 1564, in Pisa,
Italy. He entered the University of Pisa planning to study medicine,
but shifted his focus to philosophy and mathematics. In 1589, he
became a professor at Pisa for several years, during which time he
demonstrated that the speed of a falling object is not proportional to
its weight, as Aristotle had believed. According to some reports,
Galileo conducted his research by dropping objects of different
weights from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. From 1592 to 1630, Galileo was
a math professor at the University of Padua, where he developed a
telescope that enabled him to observe lunar mountains and craters, the
four largest satellites of Jupiter and the phases of Jupiter. He also
discovered that the Milky Way was made up of stars. Following the
publication of his research in 1610, Galileo gained acclaim and was
appointed court mathematician at Florence.
Galileo's research led him to become an advocate of the work of the
Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1573). However, the
Copernican theory of a sun-centered solar system conflicted with the
teachings of the powerful Roman Catholic Church, which essentially
ruled Italy at the time. Church teachings contended that Earth, not
the sun, was at the center of the universe. In 1633, Galileo was
brought before the Roman Inquisition, a judicial system established by
the papacy in 1542 to regulate church doctrine. This included the
banning of books that conflicted with church teachings. The Roman
Inquisition had its roots in the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, the
purpose of which was to seek out and prosecute heretics, considered
enemies of the state.
Today, Galileo is recognized for making important contributions to the
study of motion and astronomy. His work influenced later scientists
such as the English mathematician and physicist Sir Isaac Newton, who
developed the law of universal gravitation. In 1992, the Vatican
formally acknowledged its mistake in condemning Galileo.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1633 : Galileo in Rome for Inquisition
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=52544
1689 : William and Mary proclaimed joint sovereigns of Britain
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4763
1861 : First Medal of Honor action
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4764
1945 : Dresden devastated
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6806
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On this day in 1633, Italian philosopher, astronomer and mathematician
Galileo Galilei arrives in Rome to face charges of heresy for
advocating Copernican theory, which holds that the Earth revolves
around the Sun. Galileo officially faced the Roman Inquisition in
April of that same year and agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a
lighter sentence. Put under house arrest indefinitely by Pope Urban
VIII, Galileo spent the rest of his days at his villa in Arcetri, near
Florence, before dying on January 8, 1642.
Galileo, the son of a musician, was born February 15, 1564, in Pisa,
Italy. He entered the University of Pisa planning to study medicine,
but shifted his focus to philosophy and mathematics. In 1589, he
became a professor at Pisa for several years, during which time he
demonstrated that the speed of a falling object is not proportional to
its weight, as Aristotle had believed. According to some reports,
Galileo conducted his research by dropping objects of different
weights from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. From 1592 to 1630, Galileo was
a math professor at the University of Padua, where he developed a
telescope that enabled him to observe lunar mountains and craters, the
four largest satellites of Jupiter and the phases of Jupiter. He also
discovered that the Milky Way was made up of stars. Following the
publication of his research in 1610, Galileo gained acclaim and was
appointed court mathematician at Florence.
Galileo's research led him to become an advocate of the work of the
Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1573). However, the
Copernican theory of a sun-centered solar system conflicted with the
teachings of the powerful Roman Catholic Church, which essentially
ruled Italy at the time. Church teachings contended that Earth, not
the sun, was at the center of the universe. In 1633, Galileo was
brought before the Roman Inquisition, a judicial system established by
the papacy in 1542 to regulate church doctrine. This included the
banning of books that conflicted with church teachings. The Roman
Inquisition had its roots in the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, the
purpose of which was to seek out and prosecute heretics, considered
enemies of the state.
Today, Galileo is recognized for making important contributions to the
study of motion and astronomy. His work influenced later scientists
such as the English mathematician and physicist Sir Isaac Newton, who
developed the law of universal gravitation. In 1992, the Vatican
formally acknowledged its mistake in condemning Galileo.
history.com/tdih.do
General Interest
1633 : Galileo in Rome for Inquisition
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=52544
1689 : William and Mary proclaimed joint sovereigns of Britain
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4763
1861 : First Medal of Honor action
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4764
1945 : Dresden devastated
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6806
#############################################
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