The Trial of Galileo Galilei
The Inquisition
In the 12th century, a fight against heresy began by
several institutions within the justice=system of the
Catholic Church. In 1542, the Roman Inquisition was
under way. They could torture those who were shown to
be heretics. Anything viewed against the church’s views
or canon law would be taken seriously and sometimes
exterminated. Among the offenses were advances in
scientific theory that were considered heresy, because
they seemed to contradict the Bible. Among the
offenders was Nicolaus Copernicus.
Copernicus
In1514, Nicolaus Copernicus
produces the first feasible model
of a sun-centered system. He
completed a manuscript and did
not want to openly publish his
views. He feared backlash from
the church and other criticisms.
The scientific world was interest
in his Hellenistic model of the
universe and learned as much as
possible, while this began to be
an issue for the Catholic church.
Galileo Galilei
Copernicus’ theory was being
scrutinized and used both others
as fact by the time Galileo was
born in Pisa, Italy on February 15,
1564. He was born to Vencenzo
Galilei who was a musician. In
1572, Galileo was baptized in the
Pisa cathedral. Two years later,
his family moves to Florence.
School & Teaching
In 1579, Galileo considers to join the monastery
of Santa Marla di Vallombrosa, but he decides
to enroll at the University of Pisa in the Arts
two years later. He studies Euclid’s Elements not
at the university. He did not have enough funds
to complete his university degree. In 1586, he
begins to study and work on physics then goes
beyond the work of Archimedes. He started
teaching in universities at Pisa, Siena, Padua,
and Bolonga.
Teaching
While Galileo is teaching, his is also
doing science and math experiments
that test scientific theories. In 1592, he
obtains a chair of mathematics at the
university of Padua. He was set to
lecture on geometry and astronomy, but
also to give private lessons in Euclid,
arithmetic, fortification, surveying,
cosmography, optics, and the use of a
sector.
Scientific Exploration
In 1595, Galileo develops an
explanation of the tides which
invokes the annual and diurnal
motion of the Earth. This
seems to be where his
preference for Copernican
theory begins.
Scientific Exploration
In 1604, Galileo views the new star
called the supernova for the first time.
He begins to give lectures on the new
star a month later at the University of
Padua. He believed that the new star
was beyond the moon and that it is in
the heavens.
The Telescope
In 1609, Galileo hears about the invention
of the telescope that allows you to see far
away. He makes a duplicate a month later
of a three-powered telescope. With the
help of Paolo Sarpi, he creates an eightpowered telescope and is generously
rewarded by the University of Padua. He
continues to improve the telescope while
making celestial observations and
observations about the moon.
Jupiter
In 1610, he starts
to make other
observations about
Jupiter, Jupiter’s
satellites, Saturn’s
strange
appearances, and
other star
formations.
Universe Conclusions
In December 1610, Galileo confirms that
Venus goes through phases like the
Moon. The phases of Venus prove that
the Ptolemaic System is false and that
Venus goes around the sun, in
conformance with the Copernican
System. Galileo also pointed out the sun
spots to his friend later that year.
The Inquisition
In December 1614, Tommaso
Caccini, a Dominican friar preaches
a sermon in Florence against
Galileo and mathematicians who
subscribe to the Copernican view
which, Caccini avers, is heretical.
But a month later Caccini apologies
in a letter to Galileo.
The Inquisition
In 1615, Dominican friar Niccolo Lorini, wrote a
formal written complaint with the Inquisition
against Galileo’s Copernican views. He includes
a copy of Galileo’s letter to Castelli. Galileo later
that year writes a long letter defending his
views to Monsignor Piero Dini, a well
connected official in the Vatican. In December,
he goes to Rome to defend his Copernican
ideas.
The Inquisition
In 1616, the sun as the center of the universe is
considered heretical and absurd by the
members of the Inquisition. By orders of Pope
Paul V, Cardinal Ballarmine calls Galileo to his
residence and administers a warning not to
hold or defend the Copernican theory. An
unsigned transcript in the Inquisitio fril,
discovered in 1633, states that Galileo is also
forbidden to discuss the theory orally or in
writing .
The Inquisition
Cardinal Ballarmine writes to
Galileo to inform him that he
had not been on trial or
condemned by the
Inquisition. Galileo was still
writing and communicating
with other scientists. His
work on comets was highly
sought after
The Inquisition
In April 1624, Galileo goes to Rome
where he has six audiences with Pope
Ubran VIII and a number of cardinals.
The Pope assured him that he could
write about the Copernican theory as
long as he treated it as a mathematical
hypothesis.
The Notification
In 1632, Galileo is summoned to Rome over the
book Dialogue. Galileo tries to get the meeting
in Florence, but is denied. Galileo was too sick
and bedridden to go to Rome so a Florentine
Inquisitor sent the message to the Inquisition.
However, the Inquisition rejects Galileo’s excuse
and sends him a notification that if he does not
voluntarily come to Rome we will be arrested
and brought to Rome in chains. The verses from
scripture being used to condemn him were
Joshua 10:13, Psalm 19:1-5, Psalm 104:1-5 ,
Isaiah 40:22.
The Crime of Galileo
“Whereas you, Galileo, son of the late Vincenzio Galilei, of Florence,
aged seventy years, were denounced in 1615, to this Holy Office, for
holding as true a false doctrine taught by many, namely, that the sun is
immovable in the center of the world, and that the earth moves, and
also with a diurnal motion; also, for having pupils whom you instructed
in the same opinions; also, for maintaining a correspondence on the
same with some German mathematicians; also for publishing certain
letters on the sun-spots, in which you developed the same doctrine as
true; also, for answering the objections which were continually
produced from the Holy Scriptures, by glozing the said Scriptures
according to your own meaning; and whereas thereupon was produced
the copy of a writing, in form of a letter professedly written by you to a
person formerly your pupil, in which, following the hypothesis of
Copernicus, you include several propositions contrary to the true sense
and authority of the Holy Scriptures…”
The Inquisition's Proposal
“Our pleasure that you be absolved, provided that with a sincere
heart and unfeigned faith, in Our presence, you abjure, curse, and
detest, the said error and heresies, and every other error and heresy
contrary to the Catholic and Apostolic Church of Rome.”
The Confession
In January 1633, he goes to Rome and finally
arrives the 13th of February. Galileo stays with a
Tuscan ambassador and is forbidden to socialize
with others. In April, he is formally interrogated
by the Inquisition. He is detained in a building
for 18 days. Galileo is allowed to plea guilty to
lesser charges to receives a lesser sentence. He
confesses on April 30th. He confessed that he
may have made the Copernican case in the
Dialogue too strong and offers to refute it in his
next book.
Part of the Actual Confession
“But since I, after having been admonished by this Holy Office
entirely to abandon the false opinion that the Sun was the centre
of the universe and immoveable, and that the Earth was not the
centre of the same and that it moved, and that I was neither to
hold, defend, nor teach in any manner whatever, either orally or in
writing, the said false doctrine; and after having received a
notification that the said doctrine is contrary to Holy Writ, I did
write and cause to be printed a book in which I treat of the said
already condemned doctrine, and bring forward arguments of
much efficacy in its favour, without arriving at any solution: I have
been judged vehemently suspected of heresy, that is, of having
held and believed that the Sun is the centre of the universe and
immoveable, and that the Earth is not the centre of the same, and
that it does move.”
House Arrest
In June, Ubran VIII decided that Galileo
should be imprisoned for an indefinite
period. Galileo renounces his errors at
the Maria Sopra Minerva. He is placed
under house arrest at the Tuscan
ambassador’s residence. In December,
he is allowed to continue his house
arrest in Arcetri. I634, he suffers from a
hernia and the Pope and Inquisition
refuse to let him talk or meet with
doctors in Florence. He looses his vision
a few years later.
The End of His Life
In 1638, he become totally blind. He
petitions to be free from the Inquisition
and it is denied. He is allowed to be
transferred to Florence to be closer to
doctors. He also is allowed to attend
church holidays, but is not allowed to
communicate with others. He dies on
January 8th, 1642. In 1992, the Catholic
church finally agrees with Galileo’s once
thought heretical views.
Quiz
1. What religion was the Inquisition?
A. Protestant
B. CatholicC. Muslim
D. Judaic
Quiz
2. True or False. The Inquisition could kill
or torture heretics.
A.True –
B.False
Quiz
3. Who proposed that the Earth moves
around the sun?
A. Galileo
B. Johnanes Fabricius
C. Giordano Bruno
D. Nicolaus Copernicus-
Quiz
4. What was probably the reason that
Copernicus did not share his views
widely and immediately?
A. The Catholic Church
B. The Inquisition
C. Criticism from Scientists
D. All of the Above-
Quiz
5. Where was Galileo born?
A. Florence, Italy
B. Rome, Italy
C. Pisa, ItalyD. Arcentri, Italy
Quiz
6. True or False. Galileo never
considered to join a monastery.
A. True
B. False-
Quiz
7. Where did Galileo first begin
teaching?
A. University of PaduaB. University of Roma
C. University of Firenze
D. University of Espana
Quiz
8. Which did Galileo not make new
insights about?
A. The moon and tides
B. Jupiter
C. Saturn
D. Venus
E. Answer not pictured -
Quiz
9. What invention did Galileo not invent,
but improve on?
A. Wheel
B. Thermometer
C. TelescopeD. Stove
Quiz
10. True or False. Tommaso Caccini was a
Dominican friar who preached a sermon
against Galileo then apologized in a
letter later.
A. TrueB. False
Quiz
11. Who officially writes the pope and
with condemning Galileo with charges of
heresy?
A.Tommaso Caccini
B.Niccolo Lorini –
C.Monsignor Piero Dini
D.Cardinal Ballarmine
Quiz
12. True or False. By orders of Pope Paul
V, Cardinal Ballarmine calls Galileo to his
residence and administers a warning not
to hold or defend the Copernican theory.
A. True B. False
Quiz
13. True or False. An unsigned transcript
in the Inquisitio fril, discovered in 1595,
states that Galileo is also forbidden to
discuss the theory orally or in writing .
A True
B. False -
Quiz
14. In April 1624, Galileo goes to Rome
where he has six audiences with Pope
Ubran VIII and a number of cardinals.
The Pope assured him that he could
write about the Copernican theory as
long as he treated it as _________.
A. False
B. A Mathematical theoryC. A Physic theory
D. Improbability
Quiz
15. Galileo was forced to come to Rome
mainly due to ________________.
A. His book the DialogueB. His communication with scientists
C. Attendance of church
D. His refusal to be baptized
Quiz
16. Galileo tries to get a pardon to not
come to Rome, but the Inquisition states
that either he comes to Rome or
________.
A. He will be put to death
B. He will be subject to torture
C. He will be brought to Rome in chainsD. He will be never allowed to Rome
again
Quiz
17. Which one of these verses was not
part of the basis for Galileo’s trial?
A.Joshua 10:13
B.Psalm 19:1-5
C.Psalm 40: 9D.Psalm 104:1-5
E.Isaiah 40:22.
Quiz
18. True or False. Galileo recants his
views and teachings against the Catholic
church.
A. TrueB. False
Quiz
19. True or False. Galileo is placed under
house arrest until he dies. He tried to be
pardoned from house arrest after he
became completely blind, but was
refused.
A. TrueB. False
Quiz
20. In what year did the Catholic church
finally accept Galileo’s scientific views.
A.1847
B.1684
C.1793
D.1992-
Resources
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/galileo/galileo
.html
http://galileo.rice.edu/chron/galileo.html
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1630galileo.asp
http://my.pclink.com/~allchin/1814/retrial/1616docs.htm
http://undpress.nd.edu/book/P01097
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/galileo/galileo
chronology.html
http://users.etown.edu/r/riegerj/media/Timeline.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_affair
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inquisition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolaus_Copernicus