Galileo in Rome: The Rise and Fall of a Troublesome GeniusWilliam R. Shea and Mariano Artigas, Oxford University Press
Well known even in his time as a physicist, mathematician and astronomer, Galileo Galilei (1564 – 1642), sometimes called the father of modern science, confirmed theories such as a heliocentric universe and that objects accelerate at the same rate in a vacuum, a building block of Newtonian physics. Galileo also worked on determining the speed of light, though his experiments were inconclusive.
Galileo in Rome: The Rise and Fall of a Troublesome Genius focuses on Galileo’s six trips to Rome. His first trip in 1587 was looking for work, which he did not find. His second trip, nearly 25 years later, was as a famous professor of mathematics at the University of Pisa (1589 – 1592) and the University of Padua (1592 – 1610). By this point, Galileo had determined how to improve telescope design so the images would be right side up instead of upside down. From then on he started making progress in astronomy.
Discoveries via the telescope pointed toward the Copernican theory, that the sun was the centre of the universe. Nicolaus Copernicus had published his theory in 1543, but it wasn’t widely accepted because many people in positions of political and religious power believed the Earth was the centre of the universe. Many in Rome took offense at this theory, but some were convinced by Galileo’s discoveries in support of Copernicus. Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (a Jesuit and distinguished professor at the Roman College) gave Galileo permission to use the Copernican world system so long as he only used it hypothetically to help with astronomy and did not teach the theory.
Despite this warning, Galileo decided to write The Dialogue on the Two Chief World Systems. The book purported to be a four – day dialogue between three men: one a full – blown Copernican, the next leaning toward the Copernican side but not completely sure, and the third, Simplicio, sounding rather dimwitted believing the Earth was the centre of the universe. Galileo sent the book to an acquaintance to read before sending it to the publisher. When the book was published, the authorities read it and were outraged.
Galileo’s sixth trip to Rome was for a trial. After a lengthy process, he was sentenced to house arrest for the rest of his life.
