Galileo's Trial and Recantation
June 22, 1633 · Early Modern
On June 22, 1633, the Roman Inquisition found Galileo Galilei "vehemently suspect of heresy" for supporting heliocentrism and forced him to recant his views that Earth moves around the Sun. Pope Urban VIII ordered the investigation following Galileo's 1632 publication of "Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems," which appeared to violate a 1616 injunction against defending heliocentrism. The court sentenced Galileo to house arrest, where he remained until his death in 1642.
Key Figures
Galileo GalileiPope Urban VIIIVincenzo Maculani
Locations
Rome
Topics
astronomyscientific revolutioninquisitionheliocentrismscience and religion
Connected Events — 4 Connections
Foucault's pendulum vindicated Galileo's support of Earth's motion through direct physical proof Foucault's Pendulum Demonstrates Earth's Rotation
Bruno's refusal to recant and subsequent execution created a cautionary precedent that influenced Galileo's decision to recant rather than face the same fate, demonstrating how martyrdom shapes future intellectual strategy Giordano Bruno Executed for Heresy
Directly caused Galileo's trial by the Roman Inquisition, as the Dialogue's perceived advocacy of heliocentrism violated the Church's 1616 prohibition and led to charges of heresy Galileo Publishes Dialogue on the Two Chief World Systems
The 1758 lifting of the ban implicitly acknowledged Galileo's 1633 conviction was wrong, though formal rehabilitation did not come until Pope John Paul II in 1992 Catholic Church Lifts Ban on Heliocentric Works
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