World History Biographies: Galileo The Genius Who Faced the Inquisition

by STEELE, PHILIP

• ISBN13: 9780792236566
• ISBN10: 0792236564
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-11-08
• Publisher: National Geographic Kids

Summary

Galileo made the first effective use of the refracting telescope to discover important new facts about astronomy. His observations led him to support Copernicus's claim that Earth and the other planets circled the sun. This conflicted with the teachings of the Catholic Church, and brought Galileo before the judges of the Inquisition. He spent his final years under house arrest. Galileo's genius lay in the way he approached scientific problems. He reduced problems to simple terms on the basis of experience and common-sense logic. Then he analyzed and resolved the problems according to simple mathematical descriptions, thus opening the way for the development of modern mathematical physics.

Author Biography

Philip Steele has worked in children's book publishing as an author and editor for over 30 years. He has written about lands, peoples, cultures, and the natural world. He has also written biographies for children of Ho Chi Minh, Jesse Owens, and Rosa Parks. Recent publications include Encyclopedia of British History and A City Through Time. He lives in North Wales with his family.

Table of Contents

Galileo's Childhood
A Scientist is Born	p. 8
Going to School	p. 12
Italy in Galileo's Time	p. 14
Everyday Life	p. 16
Student and Teacher
The Student	p. 22
The Teacher	p. 24
New Ideas	p. 26
An Eye on the Heavens	p. 28
Family Matters	p. 30
Sun, Moon, and Stars	p. 32
Inquisition
Trouble Ahead	p. 36
Friends and Enemies	p. 40
The Trial	p. 42
The Final Years
House Arrest	p. 48
What We Know Now	p. 50
Spreading the Word	p. 52
The Fading Light	p. 54
After Galileo	p. 58
Glossary	p. 60
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