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Jan 1, 1514
First Model
Nicolaus Copernicus (or Kopernig) produces the first feasible model of a sun-centered system. -
Feb 15, 1564
Galileo is Born
Galileo Galilei is born in Pisa, Italy. (Also in 1564, Shakespeare is born and Michelangelo dies.) -
Period: Feb 15, 1564 to
Era of Galileo
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Jan 1, 1574
Galilei family moves
The Galilei family moves from Pisa to Florence. -
Jan 1, 1582
Compromise between Models
Tycho Brahe offers a compromise between the Aristotelian and Copernican models. Brahe's model has the sun and moon orbiting a stationary earth, but shows the other planets orbiting the sun. -
Galileo talks about Copernican Model
Galileo tells friends that he thinks the Copernican model of the universe makes sense. He writes to Kepler in Prague, "Like you, I accepted the Copernican position several years ago and discovered from thence the causes of many natural effects which are doubtless inexplicable by the current theories." -
Dissident thinker burned at staker
Dissident thinker Giordano Bruno is convicted of heresy by the Holy Office and burned at the stake. -
Galileo learns about "spy glass"
Galileo learns of a "spy glass" made by a Dutch eyeglass maker that magnifies distant objects. Galileo constructs several models of the device and displays an 8X telescope at the Venetian Senate. Johannes Kepler publishes his first two laws of planetary motion. -
Galileo builds 30X telescope
Galileo builds a 30X telescope. He uses the telescope to make several important astronomical discoveries, including four moons of Jupiter, the ring of Saturn, the phases of Venus, and craters and mountains of the moon. His observations of moons revolving around Jupiter confirm for him the correctness of the Copernican model. Galileo also concludes from the irregular features of the moon that the moon is composed of matter similar to that of earth. -
Gaileo learns about sunspots
Galileo observes sunspots. -
Mathematicians confrim Galileo's discoveries
Cardinal Bellarmine aske Jesuit mathematicians to confirm Galileo's astronomical discoveries. They do so, but offer interpretations for what they see that differ from Galileo's. -
Galileo travels to Rome
Galileo travels to Rome where he is honored for his astronomical discoveries at a banquet by the mathematicians at Collegio Romano. -
Galileo pulishes Letters on Sunspots
Galileo publishes his Letters on Sunspots, offering his theory that the sun revolves on an axis. -
Attack on Copernican theory from clegy
Father Lorini of Florence, a professor of ecclesiastical history, launches the first attack from the clergy on the Copernican theory. -
Galileo writes letter to Benedetto Castelli
Galileo writes a letter to Benedetto Castelli, a professor of mathematics at the University of Pisa, offering his ideas concerning the relationship of science and Scripture. -
Complaint filed about Galileo's 1613 letter
Dominican friar Niccolo Lorini files a complaint with the Roman Inquisition against Galileo's Copernican views. Included with the complaint is a copy of Galileo's 1613 letter to Castelli. -
Cardinal warns scientists
Cardinal Bellarmine cautions scientists to treat Copernican views as as hypothesis, not fact. -
Galileo defends his views
Galileo travels to Rome to defend his Copernican views. -
Galileo argues about tidal motion
Galileo argues in writing that tidal motion proves the the earth revolves. -
Inquistion declares that the Sun is the center of universe is heretical
A committee of advisors to the Inquisition declares that holding the view that the Sun is the center of the universe or the earth moves is absurd and formally heretical. -
Cardinal warns Galileo about Copernican theory
Cardinal Bellarmine warns Galileo not to hold, teach, or defend Copernican theory. According to an unsigned transcript found in the Inquisition file in 1633, Galileo is also enjoined from discussing his theory, either orally or in writing. -
Copernicus' On The Revoltution is Banned
The Congregation of the Index bans Copernicus' On the Revolutions until corrections can be added. Galileo meets with Pope Paul V. -
Galileo writes Discource On Comets
After three comets appear in 1618 and prompt widespread speculation as to their nature, Galileo writes Discourse on Comets, which disputes Jesuit views on the subject. -
Pope Paul V dies
Galileo is elected Consul of the Academia Fiorentina. Pope Paul V dies and is succeed by Gregory XV. -
Pope Gregory dies
Pope Gregory XV dies. Cardinal Baberini is named Pope Urban VIII. Galileo publishes The Assayer, which offers his explanation for sunspots and comets. -
Gaileo goes to Rome again
Galileo goes to Rome. He has six audiences with the Pope and meets with influential cardinals. Pope Urban VIII tells Galileo that he can discuss Copernican theory--so long as he treats it as an hypothesis. -
Galileo completes Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems
Galileo completes work on his Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems. -
Pulication for Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief Worl Systems
Galileo obtains conditional approval from the Secretary of the Vatican for publication of Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems. -
Galileo's Book is Printed
Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems is printed. -
Disttribution of the book is stopped
Distribution of Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems is stopped by Pope Urban VIII. The Pope authorizes a special commission to examine the book. -
Galileo's case is refered to the Inquisition
Based on the special commission's report, the Pope refers Galileo's case to the Roman Inquisition. -
Galileo gets a summons from the Inquistion
Galileo receives a summons to appear before the Inquisition. Galileo asks that his trial be moved to Florence -
Request to move the trail to Florence is refused
1632 Galileo's request to have his trial transferred to Florence is refused. -
Galileo is too ill to travel to Rome
Three physicians declare that Galileo is too ill to travel to Rome. The Inquistion rejects the physician's statement and declares that if Galileo does not travel to Rome voluntarily he will be arrested and taken in chains. -
Galileo arrives in Rome
Galileo arrives in Rome. He is allowed to stay at the home of the Tuscan ambassador, but is forbidden to have social contacts -
Galileo is interrogated before the Inquisition.
Galileo is interrogated before the Inquisition. For over two weeks he is imprisoned in an apartment in the Inquisition building. Galileo agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a more lenient sentence. He declares that the Copernican case was made too strongly in his book Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, and offers to refute it in another book. -
Galileo is sentenced to prison for an indefinite term.
Galileo is sentenced to prison for an indefinite term. Seven of ten cardinals presiding at his trial sign the sentencing order. Galileo signs a formal recantation. Galileo is allowed to serve his term under house-arrest in the home of the archbishop of Siena. -
1633 Galileo is allowed to return to his villa
Galileo is allowed to return to his villa in Florence, where he lives under house-arrest. -
Galileo's daughter dies
Galileo's daughter, Maria Celeste, dies. -
Galileo is now totally blind.
Galileo is now totally blind. He petitions the Inquisition to be freed, but his petition is denied. -
John Milton visits Galileo
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Galileo proposes using pendulums in clocks
Galileo, in his last major contribution, proposes using pendulums in clocks. -
Galileo dies
Galileo dies in Arcetri. -
Papal Inquisition is abolished
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Pope Pius VII ratifies the Cardinals' decree
College of Cardinals announces that "the printing and publication of works treating of the motion of the earth and the stability of the sun, in accordance with the opinion of modern astronomers, is permitted." Two weeks later, Pope Pius VII ratifies the Cardinals' decree. -
Dialogue Concerning the TWo Chief World Systems in unbanned
Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems is taken off the Vatican's list of banned books. -
Church formally admits Galileo's views are correct.
Catholic Church formally admits that Galileo's views on the solar system are correct.