From Genius to Heretic and Back Again

The son of a famous musician and music theorist, Galileo Galileo was born near Pisa, Italy. He was educated by monks at Vallombrosa, then entered the university of Pisa in 1581 to study medicine. There, he found his interests changing to philosophy and mathematics and he ended his university career in 1585 without a degree.

Galileo began modern astronomy by using a telescope to make his observations. His work was a forerunner to later developments of Isaac Newton. His beliefs caused him much trouble with the Catholic Church, though it puzzled him, as he considered himself a devout Catholic.

From genius to heretic and back again. Discover how Galileo Galileo turned the religious and scientific worlds on their ears.