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The World of Galileo

Galileo Galilei was born in Pisa, Italy in 1564. His interest was in mathematics and science and he was an astronomer and physicist who explored the skies with a telescope of his own invention. Some of the discoveries that Galileo made using the telescope include discovering four of the moons that orbited the planet Jupiter, the phases of the planet Venus and sunspots on the Sun. Closer to home, Galileo discovered that the moon had mountains and valleys and that it was not a perfect sphere as had been believed.

Galileo made other scientific discoveries, such as the speed at which different objects fall and how pendulums worked. While he did not invent the telescope, he made a better version of one, which enabled him to make his astronomical discoveries. Like Copernicus before him, Galileo realized that the Earth revolved around the Sun. His belief in a heliocentric (sun-centered) theory caused Galileo trouble with the Catholic Church, who felt that his views were in conflict with biblical views that held that the Earth was the center of the universe, around which all other bodies revolved. Galileo was put on trial and found guilty of heresy. He was not allowed to teach this Copernican viewpoint and was put under house arrest for the rest of his life.

Galileo died in 1642, leaving behind two daughters who were both nuns, and a son, Vincenzo, who was a musician. Galileo's eldest daughter, Virginia, who became Sister Maria Celeste, frequently corresponded with her father, and one hundred and twenty letters from 1623-1634 written from her to Galileo have survived.

In this mini unit, you can: Learn about Galileo's life, discover his experiments and inventions, read about his trial by the church, read letters from the daughter of Galileo and discover how telescopes and microscopes work.

Reading

Galileo’s Biography and Inventions

Letters from Galileo’s Daughter

The Trial of Galileo:

Timeline

Galileo Timeline

Projects & Activities

Explore Galileo’s Experiments

Learn About the Microscope

Learn About the Telescope

Recommended Resource

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What would it have been like to be Marco Polo, John Harrison, or Christopher Columbus, who didn't know that parts of the world existed, or sailed off into unknown waters, unsure of what they would find? In Tools of Navigation: A Kids Guide to the History and Science of Finding Your Way, readers will trace the journeys of adventurers and other intrepid explorers throughout history, going back into the past to discover how people have found their way around the world through the ages.

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