Galileo Galilei, known best as simply "Galileo," was a scientist at a most difficult time in history: the time of the Inquisition, when the Roman Catholic Church was still furiously resisting evidence from new discoveries. Galileo is one of the Inquisition's most famous victims; he supported Copernicus's discovery that the Earth revolves around the Sun. Although he was not killed for his beliefs, Galileo was silenced and placed under house arrest from the time of his trial to the end of his life.

Galileo was born February 15, 1564, in Pisa, Italy. His father, Vincenzio Galilei, was a scientist, investigating acoustics and musical theory. His mother was Giulia Ammannati. Galileo, the oldest of seven children, began his studies with Jacopo Borghini, but had to leave his tutor when his father moved the family back to his native Florence about 1575. Galileo then studied at the monastery of Santa Maria, and entered...