Galileo Trial

1435 Words3 Pages

Blake Murray
Mrs. Dreyer
Roots of Thought Honors
1 March, 2016
A Trial to Be Remembered At the time of the Scientific Revolution, the church and science itself were in a constant battle to try and prove who was right. For years previous, the church’s ideas had been considered correct but were now being challenged by up and coming science. Science had its proof but the church had its overruling power. The Spanish Inquisition was in full effect and no scientist was safe to publish his ideas in the fear that the church may disagree and put them on trial. Many scientists’ books were banned and the men even burned at the stake. One of these controversies was demonstrated in the trial of Galileo versus the church. Galileo’s trial had …show more content…

Some of his discoveries include the discovery of Jupiter’s major moons, his famous telescope used to find many things in astronomy. But also, devices that would have a profound impact on surveying and spying, such as the use of artillery, the development of clocks, and meteorology. He also wrote many books demonstrating his works that were published and distributed to the public. One book he wrote is called Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems. This book had to do with his views on how the sun was the center of the galaxy which went against the church beliefs previously established by Aristotle and Ptolemy. The church believed that the Earth was the center of the galaxy so it’s imaginable how “disappointed” they were with Galileo’s views because they always want to be right. Also, this occurred the midst of the Spanish Inquisition, so the church was substantially cracking down on the opposing views but at the same time the Scientific Revolution was in the full swing so new scientists wanted to openly express their theories without repercussion. So when Galileo published this book, the Inquisition wasn’t too hesitative to put him on trial for …show more content…

First off, this trial impacted the scientists of the scientific revolution and the time of the Inquisition directly. His work formed an important foundation for later scientists such as Isaac Newton. He set the foundation for the work of his entire life and the work he put in during this trial. Scientists were taught that they can express their ideas but they very well may be put on trial and the punishments may be very harsh. Galileo was let off fairly easy, unlike his friend Giordano Bruno 33 years earlier who was burned at the stake for publishing something the church disproved of. This set a baseline for what the scientists can expect for punishment from the Inquisition so they know what they’re getting into by publishing their works. Science slowed after Galileo’s death because scientists feared to have the same fate as him for printing something the church didn’t like. However in Protestant countries like England science flourished. The force of economic power shifted from Italy and the Mediterranean to England.(Nardo) Due to the economic power in England, they were able to invent new things as well and take giant steps forward for progress in England. Men came along and proved that Galileo was right and the church was wrong. People thought of this trial as the fight of enlightened thought and ignorance which made science and the church look incompatible.(Zweerink) This exposed the church and proved them wrong

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