Galileo Galilei was an astronomer and physicist who lived from 1564 to 1642. He identified a number of planetary bodies, including Venus, and several of his astronomical observations supported the theory of heliocentrism proposed by Nicolaus Copernicus. He also believed that mathematical analysis was a vital part of science and tested his hypotheses based on observation and measurement.
Though Galilei made contributions which we may take for granted as part of scientific study today, his...
Galileo Galilei was an astronomer and physicist who lived from 1564 to 1642. He identified a number of planetary bodies, including Venus, and several of his astronomical observations supported the theory of heliocentrism proposed by Nicolaus Copernicus. He also believed that mathematical analysis was a vital part of science and tested his hypotheses based on observation and measurement.
Though Galilei made contributions which we may take for granted as part of scientific study today, his work was quite controversial during his lifetime. For example, is work in support of the theory of heliocentrism- which asserts that the Earth goes around the Sun- was at odds with the popular belief in geocentrism. The Catholic church held that the Sun went around the Earth, though after his death the church accepted that heliocentrism is accurate. The accusations of heresy certainly served to make Galileo and his works more well-known. Galileo's writings were popular among fellow Renaissance scientists, influencing the study of astronomy, physics, and mathematics to this day. He is also credited with achievements in engineering, having improved the cannon and developed the "thermoscope-" the predecessor to the thermometer.
Rather than having any one radical change in Renaissance society, Galileo Galilei can be said to have started a number of chain reactions in the study of science that are still at work today!
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