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Feb 15, 1564
Galileo Galilei is born in Pisa, Italy.
Galileo Galilei was born to Vincenzo and Guilia Galilei on this day in 1564. Vincenzo, a famous musician, and Guilia, a well educated woman from a post-noble family. Being the oldest of seven siblings, Galileo's parents had high expectations. He was a curious and intelligent child, and even began to question everyday things even at his early ages. (Hightower) -
Jan 1, 1575
Galileo is sent to school.
Galileo's father recognized his son's potential for success, and at the age of ten, Galileo was sent to the monastery at Santa Maria Vallambrosa. Here, he studied latin, greek, logic, and religion. Galileo loved to learn, and ironically, his favorite philosopher to study was St. Thomas Aquinas, who wrote about Aristotle. The same Aristotle whose very works he would come to question himself. (Hightower) -
Galileo studies pendulums.
While studying medicine at the university of Pisa, galileo started to analyze the pendulum. After supposedly observing a church lamp swinging from a wall, galileo began investigating. He experimented with varying lengths of string and kept time by counting his pulse. Finally, Galileo found that the time of the swing remained constant as the string grew shorter. This discovery is important because it allowed clockmakers to build more accurate clocks (Hightower). -
Ivan IV dies.
Czar Ivan IV, or as he is more commonly known, Ivan the Terrible dies in Moscow, Russia. Though the czar's name suggests he was terrible, it actually means he had outstanding power over his country. Ivan did commit his fair share of disturbing terror, though. After his wife died, he became paranoid and assembled a secret police to terrorize his citizens and kill boyars. Still, during the good period of his reign, he was able to obtain large amounts of land for his great country (Grun). -
Galileo studies falling bodies.
While the chair of mathematics at the university of Pisa, Galileo studied falling bodies. It is even rumored that he dropped two spheres of the same material, but different mass off of the leaning tower of Pisa. His famous experiment proved that objects are not proportional to their weight, which would be the first time he proved Aristotle's theories wrong. Though his attacks on Aristotle increased his reputation, they also made him unpopular with the church and his colleagues (Van Helden). -
The Plague kills 15,000 people in London.
The black death, as some call it, is a deadly disease transmitted by fleas, and carried by rats, which were very common at this time in London. Some outbreaks of the plague were so severe they wiped out a quarter of England's population. Though the survival rate of the bubonic plague is close to fifty percent, many victims could not get the medical care necessary and most carriers died (Grun). -
Some of Shakespeare's most famous plays are debuted.
William Shakespeare, a famous playwright presents a series of plays this year. "Julius Ceasar", a tragedy based on the life story of the successful Roman general who brought about the end of the Roman Republic. "As You Like It" is a comedy about two lovers, Orlando and Rosalind who run away to the countryside to be together. Also debuted this year, the comedy "Twelfth Night", a story about Viola, who is shipwrecked and disguises herself as a man for protection from the Duke's army (Grun). -
Elizabeth I is succeeded by James VI
James VI, who was the king of Scotland succeeds beloved queen Elizabeth I of England after her death. Not wanting to marry, or have children, Elizabeth chose her cousin, James VI, her closest royal relative to replace her. Thus ending the reign of the Tudor family in England. In a surprisingly successful transition of power, James VI, though less popular in England, was still influential (Grun). -
Galileo builds his first telescope.
Galileo improved upon the first telescope that a dutch eyeglass maker invented in the Netherlands. With this telescope, Galileo changed the course of modern science. Upon each of his many important discoveries, Galileo questioned the theories of the church, which would soon get the scientist in trouble with the church's outstanding authority. (Van Helden and Swisher) -
Galileo discovers the moons of Jupiter.
While staring into the night sky, Galileo discovered the four moons of Jupiter. This, like many of his astronomical findings, challenged the teachings of the church. Even if his studies were considered unlawful at the time, this discovery was very significant. Galileo Galilei's findings would spark our modern space programs, and today, Jupiter's moons are even named the Galilean moons, in tribute to the Father of Modern Science. (Biography.com Editors and Swisher) -
The first black slaves arrive in Virginia.
When a Spanish slave ship was intercepted by an English privateer ship, the African people on board surely had no idea what would become of them in the next several months. Though the first few years of the slave trade started out somewhat humane, the increasing demand for these unpaid workers grew faster than the fulfillment of their needs. Millions of innocent lives were lost at the hands of greedy white men and women, and even today, we suffer to treat African-Americans as equal (Grun). -
The Mayflower departs for a New World.
The Mayflower was a ship that transported pilgrims from Europe to the new world in order for the Christian group to obtain religious freedom. The Mayflower was supposed to make it to Jamestown, but the ship was blown off course in a storm, and instead brought the pilgrims to what is now known as Plymouth, Massachusetts. Carrying about 102 passengers, The Mayflower would ensure the pilgrims' safe arrival to their new world and new life (Grun). -
Galileo is put on trial for heresy
After openly expressing his support for the Copernican theory, a theory that all celestial bodies revolved around the sun, the church threatened to arrest galileo. Soon after, he attempted to publish a book about it, "Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems: Ptolemaic and Copernican." Galileo was put on trial for heresy by the Holy Office of the Inquisition. He was found guilty, and his books were banned from Italy, he was also placed under house arrest at his home in Arcetri. (Swisher) -
Galileo's most controversial book is published.
"Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems" is published in Florence, Italy. This book came soon after the Catholic Church declared Copernicanism heretical because it opposed church scripture. After traveling to Rome to speak with the Pope and other catholic executives, galileo started his book. Galileo wanted to share his input on the subject because he saw with his own telescope that the earth was not at the center of the universe, but instead, the sun was. (Swisher) -
Galileo Galilei dies in Arcetri, Italy.
After being accused of heresy, Galileo spent his remaining nine years of life under house arrest. During this time, Galileo became blind but was determined to publish his findings. Disobeying the church's orders, Galileo wrote his famous book, "Two New Sciences", a summary of his life's works and discoveries. This book, and many others, including the "Dialogue", were published in Holland later that year which ensured his discoveries to be preserved throughout history. (Biography.com Editors) -
The Pope admits Galileo suffered unjustly.
Almost 350 years after Galileo was found guilty of committing heresy, Pope John Paul II admitted that galileo suffered unjustly from the church. As time went on, and more discoveries disproved the theory that the Earth was at the center of the solar system, the church began to accept that some of their teachings on astronomy were wrong. They lifted their ban on works supporting the Copernican theory and dropped their opposition against heliocentricism (Hightower and Biography.com Editors).
