Harvard Style
Galileo. [Internet]. 2015. The Biography.com website. Available from:
http://www.biography.com/people/galileo-9305220 [Accessed 05 Jan 2015].
Galileo Biography
Astronomer, Scientist (1564–1642)
Italian scientist and scholar Galileo made pioneering observations that laid
the foundation for modern physics and astronomy.
Synopsis
Born on February 15, 1564, in Pisa, Italy, Galileo Galilei was a mathematics professor
who made pioneering observations of nature with long-lasting implications for the study
of physics. He also constructed a telescope and supported the Copernican theory, which
supports a sun-centered solar system. Galileo was accused twice of heresy by the church
for his beliefs, and wrote books on his ideas. He died in Arcetri, Italy, on January 8,
1642.
Early Life
Galileo Galilei was born on February 15, 1564, in Pisa in the Duchy of Florence, Italy.
He was the first of six children born to Vincenzo Galilei, a well-known musician and
music theorist, and Giulia Ammannati. In 1574, the family moved to Florence, where
Galileo started his formal education at the Camaldolese monastery in Vallombrosa.
In 1583, Galileo entered the University of Pisa to study medicine. Armed with high
intelligence and talent, he soon became fascinated with many subjects, particularly
mathematics and physics. While at Pisa, Galileo was exposed to the Aristotelian view of
the world, then the leading scientific authority and the only one sanctioned by the
Roman Catholic Church. At first, Galileo supported this view, like any other intellectual
of his time, and was on track to be a university professor. However, due to financial
difficulties, Galileo left the university in 1585 before earning his degree.
Academic Career
Galileo continued to study mathematics, supporting himself with minor teaching
positions. During this time he began his two-decade study on objects in motion and
published The Little Balance, describing the hydrostatic principles of weighing small
quantities, which brought him some fame. This gained him a teaching post at the
University of Pisa, in 1589. There Galileo conducted his fabled experiments with falling
objects and produced his manuscript Du Motu (On Motion), a departure from
Aristotelian views about motion and falling objects. Galileo developed an arrogance
about his work, and his strident criticisms of Aristotle left him isolated among his
colleagues. In 1592, his contract with the University of Pisa was not renewed.
Galileo quickly found a new position at the University of Padua, teaching geometry,
mechanics and astronomy. The appointment was fortunate, for his father had died in
1591, leaving Galileo entrusted with the care of his younger brother Michelagnolo.
During his 18-year tenure at Padua, he gave entertaining lectures and attracted large
crowds of followers, further increasing his fame and his sense of mission.
Controversial Findings
In 1604, Galileo published The Operations of the Geometrical and Military Compass,
revealing his skills with experiments and practical technological applications. He also
constructed a hydrostatic balance for measuring small objects. These developments
brought him additional income and more recognition. That same year, Galileo refined
his theories on motion and falling objects, and developed the universal law of
acceleration, which all objects in the universe obeyed. Galileo began to express openly
his support of the Copernican theory that the earth and planets revolved around the sun.
This challenged the doctrine of Aristotle and the established order set by the Catholic
Church.
In July 1609, Galileo learned about a simple telescope built by Dutch eyeglass makers,
and he soon developed one of his own. In August, he demonstrated it to some Venetian
merchants, who saw its value for spotting ships and gave Galileo salary to manufacture
several of them. However, Galileo’s ambition pushed him to go further, and in the fall of
1609 he made the fateful decision to turn his telescope toward the heavens. In March
1610, he published a small booklet, The Starry Messenger, revealing his discoveries that
the moon was not flat and smooth, but a sphere with mountains and craters. He found
Venus had phases like the moon, proving it rotated around the sun. He also discovered
Jupiter had revolving moons, which didn’t revolve around the earth.
Soon Galileo began mounting a body of evidence that supported Copernican theory and
contradicted Aristotle and Church doctrine. In 1612, he published his Discourse on
Bodies in Water, refuting the Aristotelian explanation of why objects float in water,
saying that it wasn’t because of their flat shape, but instead the weight of the object in
relation to the water it displaced. In 1613, he published his observations of sunspots,
which further refuted Aristotelian doctrine that the sun was perfect. That same year,
Galileo wrote a letter to a student to explain how Copernican theory did not contradict
Biblical passages, stating that scripture was written from an earthly perspective and
implied that science provided a different, more accurate perspective. The letter was
made public and Church Inquisition consultants pronounced Copernican theory
heretical. In 1616, Galileo was ordered not to “hold, teach, or defend in any manner” the
Copernican theory regarding the motion of the earth. Galileo obeyed the order for seven
years, partly to make life easier and partly because he was a devoted Catholic.
In 1623, a friend of Galileo, Cardinal Maffeo Barberini, was selected as Pope Urban
VIII. He allowed Galileo to pursue his work on astronomy and even encouraged him to
publish it, on condition it be objective and not advocate Copernican theory. In 1632,
Galileo published the Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, a discussion
among three people: one who supports Copernicus' heliocentric theory of the universe,
one who argues against it, and one who is impartial. Though Galileo claimed Dialogues
was neutral, it was clearly not. The advocate of Aristotelian belief comes across as the
simpleton, getting caught in his own arguments.
Reaction by the Church
Church reaction against the book was swift, and Galileo was summoned to Rome. The
Inquisition proceedings lasted from September 1632 to July 1633. During most of this
time, Galileo was treated with respect and never imprisoned. However, in a final
attempt to break him, Galileo was threatened with torture, and he finally admitted he
had supported Copernican theory, but privately held that his statements were correct. He
was convicted of heresy and spent his remaining years under house arrest. Though
ordered not to have any visitors nor have any of his works printed outside of Italy, he
ignored both. In 1634, a French translation of his study of forces and their effects on
matter was published, and a year later, copies of the Dialogue were published in
Holland. While under house arrest, Galileo wrote Two New Sciences, a summary of his
life’s work on the science of motion and strength of materials. It was printed in Holland
in 1638. By this time, he had become blind and in ill health.
Death and Legacy
Galileo died in Arcetri, near Florence, Italy, on January 8, 1642, after suffering from a
fever and heart palpitations. But in time, the Church couldn’t deny the truth in science.
In 1758, it lifted the ban on most works supporting Copernican theory, and by 1835
dropped its opposition to heliocentrism altogether.
In the 20th century, several popes acknowledged the great work of Galileo, and in 1992,
Pope John Paul II expressed regret about how the Galileo affair was handled. Galileo's
contribution to our understanding of the universe was significant not only in his
discoveries, but in the methods he developed and the use of mathematics to prove them.
He played a major role in the scientific revolution and, deservedly so, earned the
moniker "The Father of Modern Science."
Personal Life
In 1600, Galileo met Marina Gamba, a Venetian woman, who bore him three children
out of wedlock: daughters Virginia and Livia, and son Vincenzo. He never married
Marina, possibly due to financial worries and possibly fearing his illegitimate children
would threaten his social standing. He worried the two girls would never marry well,
and when they were older, had them enter a convent. His son’s birth was eventually
legitimized and he became a successful musician.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. Why was Galileo’s contract with the University of Pisa not renewed in
1592?
2. When did he develop the universal laws of acceleration?
3. How did his developing a telescope affect Galileo’s life?
4. Which of his theories went against Aristotle?
4. Why did the Inquisition finally act against him?
6. What was his sentence?
COMPLETE THE SECOND SENTENCE SO THAT IT HAS A SIMILAR MEANING TO
THE FIRST SENTENCE, USING THE WORD GIVEN. DON’T CHANGE THE
WORD GIVEN. YOU MUST USE BETWEEN TWO AND FIVE WORDS,
INCLUDING THE WORD GIVEN.
1. Galileo was only summoned to Rome because he insisted on defending
his beliefs.
HAVE
Galileo _______________________________ to Rome if he hadn’t insisted on
defending his beliefs.
2. “You committed heresy”, they told Galileo.
ACCUSED
Galileo _______________________________ heresy.
3. Galileo ignored Pope Urban VIII’s advice.
ATTENTION
Galileo _______________________________ Pope Urban VIII’s advice.
4. Pope Urban VIII said: “I’d rather you didn’t advocate Copernican theory”
PREFER
Pope Urban VIII said: “I’d _______________________ Copernican theory.
5. Galileo’s son inherited his grandfather’s musical interests.
TOOK
Galileo’s son _____________________ his grandfather.
6. Galileo was sure there were no mistakes in his conclusions.
NOTHING
Galileo was sure __________________________ with his conclusions.
ANSWER KEY
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. Because of his strident criticisms to Aristotle.
2. 1604
3. He obtained money from Venetian merchants and he began to study the
heavens.
4. A) He refuted the Aristotelian explanation of why bodies float in water. B)
Sunspots: he refuted the Aristotelian doctrine that the sun was perfect. C)
He challenged the Aristotelian theory that the Earth was the centre of the
Universe.
5. Because of the publication of the Dialogue.
6. He spent the rest of his life under house arrest. He was ordered to have
no visitors (he didn’t obey), and he was ordered not to have any of his works
published outside Italy (he did not obey).
REPHRASING
1.Galileo wouldn’t have been summoned to Rome if he hadn’t insisted
on defending his beliefs.
2. Galileo was accused of committing heresy.
3. Galileo didn’t pay attention to Pope Urban VIII’s advice.
4. Pope Urban VIII said: I’d prefer you not to advocate Copernican theory.
5. Galileo’s son took after his grandfather.
6. Galileo was sure nothing was wrong with his conclusions.