Galileo Galilei's Milestones
Birth
Galileo Galilei was born in Pisa, Italy, to Vincenzo Galilei and Giulia Ammannati.
Early education
Received early education at the Camaldolese Monastery of Vallombrosa near Florence.
University of Pisa
Studied medicine and mathematics at the University of Pisa, but left without a degree.
Lecturer in Pisa
Appointed as a mathematics lecturer at the University of Pisa; conducted experiments on motion.
Professorship in Padua
Professor of mathematics at the University of Padua, made significant discoveries in physics and astronomy.
Discovery of Jupiter's moons
Discovered the four largest moons of Jupiter (Galilean moons) using his improved telescope.
Published 'Sidereus Nuncius'
Published 'Sidereus Nuncius,' reporting his celestial observations.
Appointed court mathematician
Appointed Chief Mathematician and Philosopher to the Grand Duke of Tuscany in Florence.
Published 'Letters on Sunspots'
Published 'Letters on Sunspots,' supporting the heliocentric model.
Conflict with the Church
Faced opposition from the Catholic Church for supporting heliocentrism; ordered not to teach heliocentrism as fact.
Published 'Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems'
Published his major work comparing the Copernican and Ptolemaic systems, leading to his trial.
Trial and house arrest
Tried by the Inquisition and placed under house arrest for the rest of his life.
Death
Galileo died in Arcetri, near Florence, Italy.