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Galileo's Inquisition Trial

Type Event Region Europe Time 1633

In 1633 the Roman Inquisition tried astronomer Galileo Galilei for promoting Copernican heliocentrism in his 1632 Dialogue, violating a 1616 papal ba…

Timeline

  1. 1633Rome · ItalyPope Urban VIII ordered Galileo summoned to Rome for Inquisition review. Galileo requested a postponement on grounds of age and frailty but was refused, arriving in February 1633 and lodging temporarily at the Tuscan embassy.
  2. 1633Rome, Inquisition · ItalyThe Inquisition subjected Galileo to multiple rounds of formal interrogation, questioning his knowledge of the 1616 decree and his intent in writing the Dialogue. Galileo denied deliberately promoting heliocentrism, claiming the book was merely scholarly discussion, but the officials found he had violated the 1616 ban.
  3. 1633Rome, Santa Maria sopra Minerva · ItalyThe Inquisition read its verdict, finding Galileo suspect of holding and teaching the heresy of heliocentrism. He was forced to publicly abjure and condemn Copernican heliocentrism at Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome, sentenced to life imprisonment, later commuted to indefinite house arrest.
  4. 1633–1642Arcetri · TuscanyGalileo was confined to his villa at Arcetri near Florence, forbidden visitors and travel. Despite failing eyesight until total blindness, he completed his great mechanical work Discourses on Two New Sciences (published 1638 in Leiden, the Netherlands), and died in house arrest in 1642.

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