Today in History: Galileo Gets in Trouble with the Church

On this day (February 22) in 1632, Galileo published his book, Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems in which he creates a discussion of science between two philosophers and a layman. The discussion purports to be neutral, merely laying out the theories that support the Aristotelian/ Ptolemaic world view that places the earth at the center of the universe and the Copernican worldview that places the sun at the center of the universe. In reality the Copernican model wins the debate.

Even though the Inquisition had granted a license for the book to be published, the book was used as evidence against Galileo when he was put on trial for heresy in 1633. The book was then put on the Index of Forbidden Books where it remained until 1835.