How did Galileo change the theories of the solar system? and what did it cost him? (in terms of freedom of th?

Question

How did Galileo change the theories of the solar system?

and what did it cost him? (in terms of freedom of thought and association.)

And any other facts/details about galileo

Answer 1

The Ptolemaic model of the Universe had the earth at the center and the sun and planets revolving around it.

Copernicus developed a model that had the sun at the center and the planets orbiting it.

Galileo was an avid promoter of the Copernican model.  This conflicted with the views of the Roman Catholic Church, which subscribed to the Ptolemaic model.  Galileo was tried, convicted of heresy, and sentenced to house arrest for the remainder of his life (about nine years).

Some documents have recently come to light that suggest that the reason the Pope took action against Galileo was to get revenge on the Medici family, which financially supported Galileo.  (Sorry, I don't have a link for that information.)

Much more information is available from Wikipedia and elsewhere.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Gal...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medici