Galileo Galilei: Theory, Trial, and Tribulations

Context Timeline of events Galileo's letter to the Grand Duchess

Context: Ptolemaic Model

Context: Copernican Model

Context: Italy

Context: The Inquisition

Context: Heresy

Timeline of Events: Before the Trial

1597 Tells friends he agrees with

Copernican model

1600 Dissident thinker convicted

of heresy and burned

1610 Builds telescope, confirms

Copernican model

1611 Honored by mathematicians

at a banquet at Collegio Romano

1613 First attack from the clergy

1615 Complaint filed with

Inquisition

1624 Meets with Pope 6 times,

told he can discuss theory only as a hypothesis

1633 At trial, recants and

sentenced to house arrest

Timeline of Events: After the Trial

1638 Totally blind, he petitions to be freed but is denied

1641 Dies

1820 Inquisition abolished

1835 Book describing heliocentric theory removed from Vatican's banned list

1992 Church formally abmits his views are correct

Letter

Search for ”galileo letter grand duchess” and click on the second link to skim his letter. Do not

close the window.

Letter

Type of document

Date of document

Author(s) or creator(s) of the document

Other information about the author indicated on the document (position, title, etc.)

For what audience was the document written?

Letter

Type of document: Letter

Date of document: 1615

Author(s) or creator(s) of the document: Galileo Galilei

Other information about the author indicated on the document (position, title, etc.): None

For what audience was the document written? The Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany

Letter

List 2 or more things the document tells you about the author's view of the physical world (read paragraph 6)

What does the author say about the relationship between religion and science? (read paragraph 2)

Letter

List 2 or more things the document tells you about the author's view of the physical world. 1. The sun is motionless. 2. The earth revolves around the sun.

What does the author say about the relationship between religion and science? Passages from the Bible, incorrectly understood, have been used by his detractors to support their own opinions, rather than the truth.

Letter

How does (or does not) the author address the concerns of Roman Catholic Church officials as expressed in the Galileo Indictment?

How did the author stay out of trouble with the church authorities? (or, if the document is by Galileo, why did he get in trouble with church authorities?) (read paragraphs 2, 4, 5, 6)

Letter

How does (or does not) the author address the concerns of Roman Catholic Church officials as expressed in the Galileo Indictment? It was written before the indictment.

How did the author stay out of trouble with the church authorities? (or, if the document is by Galileo, why did he get in trouble with church authorities?) (read paragraphs 2, 4, 5, 6) He said detractors think their opinions are more important than the truth, they are obstinate, he laughs at them, and they are hiding their lies.

It's Your Turn

Read Galileo's Indictment. With two other partners, fill out the worksheet your teacher will

pass out. To read the indictment, search for ”galileo indictment.”

Tracking Record

Homework

W3, L9 8/161. Submit group project for progress check. Due 8/232. Answer each question with three sentences:

1. Why was the church upset with Galileo? 2. Was Galileo right and the church wrong? 3. The name “Scientific Revolution” implies this era was one of change. What are the old and new values that

are coming into conflict, based on these sources? (think about issues such authority, sources of knowledge, and the individual in society, for example).

4. Is a conflict such as this possible today? Why and how? 5. Will this information help us in the future and help us

understand the modern world? How?