Galileo in Rome: The Rise and Fall of a Troublesome GeniusGalileo's trial by the Inquisition is one of the most dramatic incidents in the history of science and religion. Today, we tend to see this event in black and white--Galileo all white, the Church all black. Galileo in Rome presents a much more nuanced account of Galileo's relationship with Rome.The book offers a fascinating account of the six trips Galileo made to Rome, from his first visit at age 23, as an unemployed mathematician, to his final fateful journey to face the Inquisition. The authors reveal why the theory that the Earth revolves around the Sun, set forth in Galileo's Dialogue, stirred a hornet's nest of theological issues, and they argue that, despite these issues, the Church might have accepted Copernicus if there had been solid proof. More interesting, they show how Galileo dug his own grave. To get the imprimatur, he brought political pressure to bear on the Roman Censor. He disobeyed a Church order not to teach the heliocentric theory. And he had a character named Simplicio (which in Italian sounds like simpleton) raise the same objections to heliocentrism that the Pope had raised with Galileo. The authors show that throughout the trial, until the final sentence and abjuration, the Church treated Galileo with great deference, and once he was declared guilty commuted his sentence to house arrest.Here then is a unique look at the life of Galileo as well as a strikingly different view of an event that has come to epitomize the Church's supposed antagonism toward science. |
Contents
Job Hunting and the Path to Rome FIRST TRIP 1587 | 1 |
The Door of Fame Springs Open SECOND TRIP 29 MARCH4 JUNE 1611 | 19 |
Roman Clouds THIRD TRIP 10 DECEMBER 16154 JUNE 1616 | 49 |
Roman Sunshine FOURTH TRIP 23 APRIL16 JUNE 1624 | 94 |
StarCrossed Heavens FIFTH TRIP 3 MAY26 JUNE 1630 | 123 |
Foul Weather in Rome SIXTH TRIP 13 FEBRUARY6 JULY 1633 | 158 |
Other editions - View all
Galileo in Rome: The Rise and Fall of a Troublesome Genius William R. Shea,Mariano Artigas Limited preview - 2003 |
Galileo in Rome: The Rise and Fall of a Troublesome Genius William R. Shea,Mariano Artigas Limited preview - 2004 |
Galileo in Rome: The Rise and Fall of a Troublesome Genius William R. Shea,Mariano Artigas No preview available - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
Ambassador Niccolini Andrea Cioli April archbishop Archivio Roma Sacra arguments asked Assayer astronomical Benedetto Castelli Caccini Cardinal Bellarmine Cardinal Francesco Barberini Castelli to Galileo Catholic Cesare Nebbia Christina Christina of Lorraine Christopher Clavius Church Clavius condemned Congregation Copernicanism Copernicus copy Cosimo Council of Trent Curzio Picchena declared decree Dialogue discussion document Earth moves Father Riccardi February Federico Cesi Ferdinando Florentine inquisitor Francesco Niccolini friends Galileo Galilei Gian Lorenzo Bernini Grand Duchess grand duke heretical Holy Office Ingoli Jesuits Jupiter letter from Galileo Letter to Castelli Lorini Lyncean Maffeo Barberini Magalotti March Maria Celeste Mario Guiducci mathematician matter Moon motion nephew Opere opinion papal person philosopher photo Paolo Soriani Pisa planets pope professor replied Roman College Rome sacred palace Scripture secretary September 1632 Sixtus stars sunspots telescope theologian things told Tuscany Urban VIII Vatican Villa Medici Vincenzio wanted writing wrote to Galileo Zollern